How Does Langston Hughes Use Descriptive Language In The Negro Speaks Of Rivers

In the poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes, the speaker uses descriptive language and experiences to explain to the readers that the speaker knows rivers, not only geographically but historically as well. In the poem the speaker uses vivid and evocative language to describe rivers around the world. All the rivers in this poem originate from different countries and continents such as Asia, Africa, Egypt, and North America. The rivers mentioned include the Nile river, the Congo river, the Euphrates river, and the Mississippi river.
The most significant impact readers can get from this poem is how the speaker makes it so the readers can picture what he has seen himself. For example, “I’ve seen it’s muddy bosom turn all golden
in the sunset”. A few times in this poem he describes first hand experiences with detailed information making it well known he’s encountered these rivers. The speaker not only mentions visual experiences but he describes sounds, “I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep”. In other words the speaker slept near the Congo river and the sounds of the rivers put him to sleep. Each of these rivers are in dissimilar locations, so the speaker has traveled to very different locations to visit each river. Along with knowing the rivers geographically, the speaker knows the history, “My soul has grown deep like the rivers”. Historically, some of these rivers have been around for billions of years, so what the speaker is saying is that his soul is very old. Also, in the poem the speaker says “I’ve known” and not “I know”, so time has passed and the speaker is older. With that being said, the speaker has been around the rivers for a while, even around during momentous times , for example “ I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans”.
All together, Langston Hughes used his experiences and his knowledge to explain geographical and historical information on rivers. Langston has grown with the rivers, the “ancient dusky rivers”, he has explored these rivers as well as his soul. In conclusion, when Langston said “I’ve known rivers” it was well supported.