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Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar

The Path

THERE are no beaten paths to Glory’s height,
There are no rules to compass greatness known;
Each for himself must cleave a path alone,
And press his own way forward in the fight.
Smooth is the way to ease and calm delight,
And soft the road Sloth chooseth for her own;
But he who craves the flower of life full—blown,
Must struggle up in all his armor dight!
What though the burden bear him sorely down
And crush to dust the mountain of his pride,
Oh, then, with strong heart let him still abide;
For rugged is the roadway to renown,
Nor may he hope to gain the envied crown
Till he hath thrust the looming rocks aside.

#AmericanWriters

Other works by Paul Laurence Dunbar...
Hunting Song

Tek a cool night, good an’ cleah, Skiff o’ snow upon de groun’; Jes’ 'bout fall—time o’ de yeah W’en de leaves is dry an brown; Tek a dog an’ tek a axe,
Thou Art my Lute

Thou art my lute, by thee I sing,… My being is attuned to thee. Thou settest all my words a—wing, And meltest me to melody. Thou art my life, by thee I live,
A Plea

Treat me nice, Miss Mandy Jane, Treat me nice. Dough my love has tu’ned my brain, Treat me nice. I ain’t done a t’ing to shame,
The Wind and the Sea

I STOOD by the shore at the dea… As the sun sank flaming red; And the face of the waters that sp… Was as gray as the face of the dea… And I heard the cry of the wanton…
After Many Days

I’VE always been a faithful man An’ tried to live for duty, But the stringent mode of life Has somewhat lost its beauty. The story of the generous bread
Ode for Memorial Day

DONE are the toils and the weari… Done is the summons of bugle and d… Softly and sweetly the sky overarc… Shelt’ring a land where Rebellion… Dark were the days of the country’…
Diplomacy

TELL your love where the roses b… And the hearts of the lilies quive… Not in the city’s gleam and glow, But down by a half—sunned river. Not in the crowded ball—room’s gla…
Dreams

What dreams we have and how they f… Like rosy clouds across the sky; Of wealth, of fame, of sure succes… Of love that comes to cheer and bl… And how they wither, how they fade…
Beyond the Years

BEYOND the years the answer lie… Beyond where brood the grieving sk… And Night drops tears. Where Faith rod—chastened smiles… And doff its fears,
On a Sea Wall

I sit upon the old sea wall, And watch the shimmering sea, Where soft and white the moonbeams… Till, in a fantasy, Some pure white maiden’s funeral p…
Love Despoiled

As lone I sat one summer’s day, With mien dejected, Love came by; His face distraught, his locks ast… So slow his gait, so sad his eye, I hailed him with a pitying cry:
The Poet

He sang of life, serenely sweet, With, now and then, a deeper note. From some high peak, nigh yet remo… He voiced the world’s absorbing be… He sang of love when earth was you…
 1
Curtain

VILLAIN shows his indiscretion, Villain’s partner makes confession… Juvenile, with golden tresses, Finds her pa and dons long dresses… Scapegrace comes home money—laden,
Howdy, Honey, Howdy

DO’ a—stan’in’ on a jar, fiah a—s… thoo, Ol’ folks drowsin’ 'roun’ de place… wide awake is Lou, W’en I tap, she answah, an’ I see
Over the Hills

Over the hills and the valleys of… Slowly I take my way. Life is the night with its dream—v… Death is the waking at day. Down thro’ the dales and the bower…



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