"Dream Deferred" - Langston Hughes

I really enjoyed this poem because it was short and sweet. The diction wasn't difficult, so that's good: it's always more fun reading a poem that I can understand. Additionally, the theme of the poem is stated at the very beginning of the poem: "What happens to a dream deferred?" Hughes then goes on about possible outcomes of a dream that is deferred.  If this poem were to be taken literaly, it would be interesting bcause no one thinks about what happens to dreams after you wake up. Here, however, the poem is talking about peoples' dreams or ambitions in life. I think all the "dreams deferred," or forgotton dreams or ones that never came true, here are all negative outcomes. Some "dry up," "fester like a sore," and "stink like rotten meat." Needless to say, imagery and senses are used heavily in this piece. I'm not sure how each deferred dream differs, but I'm guessing the common thread is that they were dreams that fell short, giving this poem a sad, bitter tone.