This is a song for the genius child.
Sing it softly, for the song is wild.
Sing it softly as ever you can -
Lest the song get out of hand.
Nobody loves a genius child.
The first hint of the poem’s dominant theme, which is the power of genius–to upset, transform, revolutionize, run “wild.” This kind of power is unsettling to many, as Hughes well knew.
Genius Child