News Out of Africa

What Happens to a Dream Deferred?

May 2, 2008 · 3 Comments

Today many Zimbabweans moved a bit closer to their dream, only to be knocked back again. The presidential poll results were finally announced, confirming what everyone already knew: Morgan Tsvangirai took the day with 47.9% of the vote. Unfortunately, Mr. Tsvangirai did not pass the 50% majority needed to win outright. Zimbabwe’s dream is deferred again, and the candidates will most likely stand in a run-off vote.

A Dream Deferred

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

-Langston Hughes

Categories: Africa · Zimbabwe
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3 responses so far ↓

  • David Morris // May 2, 2008 at 7:06 pm

    That’s quite a different outcome to the results that were released by the MDC. Although there is no concrete proof, there is a strong chance that the ZEC fixed those percentages.

    By the way, that’s a good poem!

  • amanii // May 2, 2008 at 7:21 pm

    Very true. The released results lack any kind of credibility.

    The credit is due to the poet Langston Hughes. I thought it was quite appropriate.

  • tumwijuke // May 3, 2008 at 5:50 am

    Hopefully the dream won’t die. Hopefully it will survive interruption by nightmares and will be fullfiled in the light of day.

    For the people of Zimbabwe … hopefully.

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