Paul Laurence Dunbar Poems

Love me. I care not what the circling years
To me may do.
If, but in spite of time and tears,
You prove but true.
...

Long years ago, within a distant clime,
Ere Love had touched me with his wand sublime,
I dreamed of one to make my life's calm May
...

Across the hills and down the narrow ways,
And up the valley where the free winds sweep,
The earth is folded in an ermined sleep
...

De trees is bendin' in de sto'm,
De rain done hid de mountain's fo'm,
I 's 'lone an' in distress.
...

Hyeah come Caesar Higgins,
Don't he think he 's fine?
Look at dem new riggin's
Ain't he tryin' to shine?
...

The sun is low,
The waters flow,
My boat is dancing to and fro.
The eve is still,
...

Oh, the day has set me dreaming
In a strange, half solemn way
Of the feelings I experienced
On another long past day,--
...

LET me close the eyes of my soul
That I may not see
What stands between thee and me.
Let me shut the ears of my heart
...

SHE wrapped her soul in a lace of lies,
With a prime deceit to pin it;
And I thought I was gaining a fearsome prize,
...

I'VE been watchin' of 'em parson,
An' I'm sorry fur to say
'At my mind is not contented
...