Paul Laurence Dunbar

(1872-1906 / Ohio / United States)

poet Paul Laurence Dunbar
#44 on top 500 poets
Paul Laurence Dunbar
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Paul Laurence Dunbar Poems

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Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio to parents who had escaped from slavery; his father was a veteran of the American Civil War, having served in the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and the 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry Regiment. His parents instilled in him a love of learning and history. He was a student at an all-white high school, Dayton Central High School, and he participated actively as a student. During high school, he was both the editor of the school newspaper and class president, as well as the president of the school literary society. Dunbar had also started the first African-American newsletter in Dayton.

He wrote his first poem at age 6 and gave his first public... more »

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  • hassam (6/28/2018 4:43:00 AM)

    w­h­At ­m­Ar­cus ­i­m­p­l­i­e­d ­i ­d­i­d­n't ­k­n­ow t­h­At ­A st­Ay ­At ­h­o­m­e ­m­o­m ­A­b­l­e t­o ­g­et ­p­A­i­d $4252 ­i­n 4 w­e­e­ks ­o­n t­h­e ­c­o­m­put­er. ­h­Av­e y­ou r­e­A­d t­h­is w­e­b ­l­i­n­k­g­o t­o t­h­is s­it­e ­h­o­m­e t­A­b ­f­or ­m­or­e ­d­et­A­i­l.www.jobiron.com

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  • Very nice poem , it touch myy heart , thankyou (6/3/2018 11:03:00 AM)

    https:www.poemlearners.us

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  • nut4lif (4/19/2018 7:55:00 AM)

    my name nut and i am homosexual

    4 person liked.
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  • jacob (4/13/2018 10:59:00 AM)

    I also go to ccs in crownpoint new Mexico: p

    1 person liked.
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  • chaz begay (4/11/2018 3:14:00 PM)

    i go to ccs crownpoint new mexico

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    		4 person did not like.
  • john marston (4/10/2018 3:17:00 PM)

    I don't like his books

    1 person liked.
    		2 person did not like.
  • IM GAY IN EVERY WAY (4/10/2018 3:17:00 PM)

    IM GAY TELL YOUR FRIENDS

    3 person liked.
    		10 person did not like.
  • smith (4/10/2018 3:08:00 PM)

    these books are bad]: (

    3 person liked.
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  • Palavesam V (3/14/2018 10:26:00 AM)

    ''You are going to be the lady Paul Laurence Dunbar. this quote from which book of Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks

    4 person liked.
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  • xander g. (2/26/2018 12:41:00 PM)

    this man's poems are lovely. i've never been a huge fan of poetry myself, but he was one of the poets i had to write about for an assignment. he is most definitely an exception. i enjoy the sorrowful feeling a lot of his poems emit.

    6 person liked.
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Best Poem of Paul Laurence Dunbar

We Wear The Mask

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,--
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be overwise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!

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