# Judgment Day explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Langston Hughes.

## What happens

The speaker describes a death and spiritual ascension, finding comfort in Jesus's reassurance and arriving clean and bright in the Lord's sight.

## Themes in this chapter

### Death and Mortality

The poem directly addresses the speaker's death and journey to the afterlife.

### Resilience and Joy

Despite death, the speaker finds joy and cleanliness in the Lord's presence.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who dies and ascends to heaven.

### Jesus

Addressed as Lord Jesus and Kind Jesus, offering reassurance.

## Key lines

> They put ma body in de ground, Ma soul went flyin’ o’ de town.

My body was buried, but my soul ascended above the town.

_The speaker describes the separation of body and soul after death._

> Says don’t be ’fraid Cause you ain’t dead.

Jesus tells me not to fear because I am not truly dead.

_Jesus reassures the speaker that death is not the end._

> An’ now I’m settin’ clean an’ bright In de sweet o’ ma Lord’s sight

Now I am pure and radiant in the loving presence of my Lord.

_The speaker finds peace and purity in the afterlife._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_15_se/chapters/judgment-day
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_15_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_15_se/chapters