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Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar

The Change

LOVE used to carry a bow, you know,
But now he carries a taper;
It is either a length of wax aglow,
Or a twist of lighted paper.
I pondered a little about the scamp,
And then I decided to follow
His wandering journey to field and camp,
Up hill, down dale or hollow.
I dogged the rollicking, gay, young blade
In every species of weather;
Till, leading me straight to the home of a maid
He left us there together.
And then I saw it, oh, sweet surprise,
The taper it set a—burning
The love—light brimming my lady’s eyes,
And my heart with the fire of yearning.

#AmericanWriters

Other works by Paul Laurence Dunbar...
An Experiment on a Bird in an Air Pump, by Joseph Wright of Derby
Sympathy

I know what the caged bird feels,… When the sun is bright on the upla… When the wind stirs soft through t… And the river flows like a stream… When the first bird sings and the…
 3
The End of the Chapter

Ah, yes, the chapter ends to—day; We even lay the book away; But oh, how sweet the moments sped Before the final page was read! We tried to read between the lines
When Winter Darkening All Around

When winter covering all the groun… Hides every sign of Spring, sir. However you may look around, Pray what will then you sing, sir? The Spring was here last year I k…
Roses

Oh, wind of the spring—time, oh, f… When blossoms and bird—song are ri… Oh, joy for the season, and joy fo… That gave me the roses of life, of… That gave me the roses of life.
Kidnaped

I HELD my heart so far from harm… I let it wander far and free In mead and mart, without alarm, Assured it must come back to me. And all went well till on a day,
Joggin' Erlong

De da’kest hour, dey allus say, Is des’ befo’ de dawn, But it’s moughty ha’d a—waitin’ W’ere de night goes frownin’ on; An’ it’s moughty ha’d a—hopin’
A Negro Love Song

Seen my lady home las’ night, Jump back, honey, jump back. Hel’ huh han’ an’ sque’z it tight, Jump back, honey, jump back. Hyeahd huh sigh a little sigh,
 1
Discovered

SEEN you down at chu’ch las’ nig… Nevah min’, Miss Lucy. What I mean? oh, dat 's all right… Nevah min’, Miss Lucy. You was sma’t ez sma’t could be,
De Critters' Dance

Ain’t nobody nevah tol’ you not a… 'Bout de time dat all de critters… Some folks tell it in a sto’y, som… ‘Peahs to me you ought to hyeahed… Well, de critters all was p’osp’ou…
The Bohemian

Bring me the livery of no other ma… I am my own to robe me at my pleas… Accepted rules to me disclose no t… What is the chief who shall my gar… No garb conventional but I 'll at…
Communion

In the silence of my heart, I will spend an hour with thee, When my love shall rend apart All the veil of mystery: All that dim and misty veil
Philosophy

I been t’inkin’ ‘bout de preachah;… ’Bout hit bein’ people’s dooty, fu… How one ought to live so pleasant… Meetin’ evahbody roun’ us wid ouah… Dat 's all right, I ain’t a—sputi…
A Drowsy Day

THE air is dark, the sky is gray, The misty shadows come and go, And here within my dusky room Each chair looks ghostly in the gl… Outside the rain falls cold and sl…
When the Old Man Smokes

In the forenoon’s restful quiet, When the boys are off at school, When the window lights are shaded And the chimney—corner cool, Then the old man seeks his armchai…
A Lost Dream

AH, I have changed, I do not kno… Why lonely hours affect me so. In days of yore, this were not won… No loneliness my soul could daunt. For me too serious for my age,



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