I've been reading the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar lately. Here are two poems I particularly like.
A Starry Night
A cloud fell down from the heavens,
And broke on the mountain's brow;
It scattered the dusky fragments
All over the vale below.
The moon and the stars were anxious
To know what its fate might be;
So they rushed to the azure op'ning,
And all peered down to see.
Longing
If you could sit with me beside the sea to-day,
And whisper with me sweetest dreamings o'er and o'er;
I think I should not find the clouds so dim and gray,
And not so loud the waves complaining at the shore.
If you could sit with me upon the shore to-day,
And hold my hand in yours as in the days of old,
I think I should not mind the chill baptismal spray,
Nor find my hand and heart and all the world so cold.
If you could walk with me upon the strand to-day,
And tell me that my longing love had won your own,
I think all my sad thoughts would then be put away,
And I could give back laughter for the Ocean's moan!
If you liked these, you can read more at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Digital Collection.
The round up this week is over at A Wrung Sponge. Stop by and check out all the great entries. Happy poetry Friday, all!
The round up this week is over at A Wrung Sponge. Stop by and check out all the great entries. Happy poetry Friday, all!
The cloud poem makes me think of the thunderheads we saw last night -- illuminated by the third quarter moon and looking very spooky and silent and TALL!
ReplyDeleteLonging is one of my favorite poems by Dunbar. It always makes me cry. I found it in a book with no cover or title page thirty years ago. Thank you for posting it.
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