The poem "A Dream Deferred," by Langston Hughes questions what happens when a person's dream is lost? The poem uses six metaphors, five of which could be called similes. The first metaphor is a raisin "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" Hughes compares a raisin in the sun a dream deferred that dries up. Raisins are dry and become raisins by sitting in the sun. Initially raisins are start off as grapes and gradually lose their juice when they are placed in the sun. Thus, Hughes is comparing dreams as a grape and when it is deferred it becomes a raisin, which loses its juice. The second metaphor is a sore "Or fester like a sore - and then run?" Fester is defined as "to form pus", when a open wound or sore festers it means the sore is not healing or being properly cared for. And then run" which portray that dreams bleed continuously like wounds. Thus, Hughes suggests that a deferred dream will not heal or go away. The third metaphor is rotten meat "Does it stink like rotten meat?" Hughes compares deferred dreams to rotten meat , questioning if dreams are stashed away will they stink like rotten meat. The stink of rotten meat, causes us to throw and get rid of the rotting meat. Thus, Hughes suggests that dreams are ignored such as a ignored meat left in the fridge to rot. The fourth metaphor is syrup "Or crust and sugar over - like a syrupy sweet?" Hughes, compares deferred dreams to syrup, which is sticky and thick. Thus, by comparing deferred dreams to syrup Hughes portrays that deferred dreams become stuck and stick. The fifth metaphor is heavy load "Maybe it just sags like a heavy load." Hughes compared differed dreams to heavy load. Load is something you carry, and if it is heavy then it causes difficulties. When an object carries too much load it begins to sag such as a plastic bag with heavy groceries it then tends to sag. Hughes suggests that a deferred dream create heavy load and difficulties, thus if ignored they will start