Tiger Riding for Beginners

Traveling Poet Philosopher & Occasional Wiseacre

BOOK: “Dear Lovely Death” by Langston Hughes

Posted on October 28, 2026 by B Gourley

Dear Lovely Death by Langston Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Second Story Books Page

This, Langston Hughes’ fourth poetry collection — published in 1931, consists of twelve short poems about (or touching upon) death. Originally, Hughes only had a small run of this collection self-published, so it isn’t always listed among his works.

These poems are short and lyrical. The last few poems are not so explicitly about death as the early ones. However, given that old chestnut (variously attributed to Robert Graves and Samuel Delany) that all poems are about love, death, or the change of seasons, these would definitely hit the second category.

I’d recommend this collection for poetry readers.

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BOOK: “The Negro Mother: And Other Dramatic Recitations” by Langston Hughes

Posted on October 28, 2026 by B Gourley

The Negro Mother: And Other Dramatic Recitations by Langston Hughes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Google Books Site

This short volume consists of just five intermediate length lyric poems. The poems included are: “The Coloured Soldier,” “Broke,” “The Big-Timer,” “The Negro Mother,” and “Dark Youth of the USA.”

This collection stands out from Hughes’ others. Each poem is a character sketch, a snapshot of tribulations suffered by black Americans in Hughes’ day (published in 1931.) The poems are longer and more biographic than most of Hughes’ work.

This is a powerful collection of poems, and I’d highly recommend it for poetry readers.

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DAILY PHOTO: Jungle Road

Image

Photograph of a small road, guardrails encased in moss, in the Dow Hill area of Kurseong, West Bengal.

PROMPT: Worst Travel Experience

Posted on October 28, 2026 by B Gourley

What’s the worst travel experience you’ve ever had?
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My “worst travel experience” is like my “worst sexual experience;” it still beats the hell out of sitting at home alone on the couch. (Also, worst travel experiences make the best travel stories — given enough distance in the rearview to see the humor.)