Upon his return to the United States, he took a job working in a hotel restuarant in Washington, D.C. One night in 1925, he put three of his poems beside the plate of poet Vachel Lindsay. The next day, newspapers trumpeted the news that Lindsay had discovered a new writer. Then, in 1926, His first collection of poetry, The Weary Blues, was published, earning him even more recognition. A scholraship followed, permitting him to continue his education.