Italy—Poetry is Practical Summary and Analysis

Le Grand Duc closes for the summer, and Langston goes with some Italian coworkers to Italy for their vacation. He is very popular in the villages of Italy, because they have never seen a black person before, and everyone wants to see and touch Langston. When Langston takes a train back to France, he falls asleep and someone picks his pocket, stealing his money and passport. Stranded in Italy, Langston is unable to find a job, and after hustling on the beaches for a few months, he gets passage on a ship back to New York. He works in exchange for his passage and makes it back to Harlem.

Langston's mother has moved in with some relatives in Washington, D.C., and she encourages Langston to come there too. Langston finds a job...