Dream Deferred

Langston Hughes poem Dream Deferred makes use of several literary techniques and strategies.  The poem is settled around the question of "what happens to a dream deferred?" (Hughes).  I noticed that, not only is the majority of the poem composed of similes, but that most of them refer to foods.  It is one of the few poems in this group of literary works which actually has a rhyming scheme, which, in my opinion, makes for a smoother and more flowing read. 
He also uses punctuation to further connect with his audience.  Only one of the seven phrases of the work is a statement; the rest are questions.  I think Hughes uses the many questions to involve the reader, to make us think, and to form our own opinions of what becomes of deferred dreams.  His statement of "Maybe it just sags like a heavy load" (Hughes) seems to be HIS thoughts on the matter.  He doesn't put it as a question like the rest of the poem; he states it as though it is a fact he believes in.  Hughes gives some similes suggesting that a deferred dream is not necessarily a bad thing.  However, I feel that the overall tone of the poem is that a dream lost lays a heavy burden on the heart.