I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,\r\n Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,\r\n The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,\r\n The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,\r\n The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand\r\n singing on the steamboat deck,\r\n The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as\r\n he stands,\r\n The wood-cutter\u2019s song, the ploughboy\u2019s on his way in the morning,\r\n or at noon intermission or at sundown,\r\n The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work,\r\n or of the girl sewing or washing,\r\n Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,\r\n The day what belongs to the day\u2014at night the party of young\r\n fellows, robust, friendly,\r\n Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.\r\n<\/pre>","rendered":"The two videos below provide good cultural\/historical background for understanding Hughes’ poetry in the context of the Harlem Renaissance.<\/p>\n