Hughes employs a conversational tone and simple, yet evocative language to convey the speaker's emotions and thoughts. The poem begins with the speaker acknowledging their advanced age, noting that they are "half a hundred," a phrase that emphasizes the passing of time and the sense of life slipping away. The use of the word "half" suggests the incompleteness and lack of fulfillment that haunt the speaker.
As the poem unfolds, the speaker recalls their younger self, filled with dreams of adventure and aspirations for success. They had "plans and dreams/ And schemes and schemes," imagining a future filled with excitement and possibilities. However, these aspirations remain unrealized, lingering as mere "shadows of the moon." The repetition of the word "dreams" highlights the speaker's yearning for a life that never came to fruition.
The poem delves into the speaker's present state, marked by a sense of resignation and disappointment. They recognize that their journey is nearing its end, and they have reached a point where they must confront the harsh reality of their unachieved ambitions. The line, "I am walking slowly, slowly, slowly/ Toward the end of my fifty years," captures the slow, plodding pace of their life, weighed down by the burden of unfulfilled dreams.
The speaker reflects on the "roads they didn't take," symbolizing the choices and opportunities that were missed or ignored along the way. This theme of regret is further emphasized by the repetition of the line, "I could have done so much." These poignant words express the speaker's deep sense of loss and the haunting feeling of what could have been.
Amidst the sense of regret, the poem also acknowledges the beauty and joys that have touched the speaker's life. They speak of "sunsets by the sea" and the "laughter of children," suggesting that despite their unfulfilled dreams, there have been moments of happiness and fulfillment. However, these moments seem fleeting and insufficient to compensate for the weight of their unfulfilled aspirations.
In the concluding stanza, the speaker acknowledges that they are "halfway through the night," using this metaphor to signify their uncertain future and the darkness that lies ahead. The line, "And I don't know where I'm going," encapsulates the speaker's sense of aimlessness and the lack of a clear path forward. This uncertainty mirrors the unfulfilled dreams that have left them feeling lost and adrift.
"50, 50" ends on a somber note, leaving the reader with a sense of melancholy and reflection. Langston Hughes' poem serves as a reminder of the fragility of time, the importance of pursuing one's dreams, and the bittersweet nature of life's journey.