Paul Laurence Dunbar
1872–1906
Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906) was an American poet, novelist and playwright from Dayton, Ohio, the son of formerly enslaved parents. He was one of the first African American writers to gain a national readership, with collections such as Lyrics of Lowly Life (1896).
Dunbar wrote both in standard English and in dialect. His best-known poem, “We Wear the Mask”, describes the hidden suffering of Black Americans; “Sympathy”, with its line “I know why the caged bird sings”, gave Maya Angelou the title of her memoir. He died of tuberculosis at 33.
Best-known poems
-
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; … -
A Corn-Song
On the wide veranda white,
In the purple failing light,
Sits the master while the sun is lowly burning; … -
Retort
Thou art a fool," said my head to my heart,
"Indeed, the greatest of fools thou art,
To be led astray by trick of a tress, …
All poems (11)
- A Corn-SongOn the wide veranda white,
- A Death SongLay me down beneaf de willers in de grass,
- Conscience and Remorse“good-bye,” I said to my Conscience—
- Harriet Beecher StoweShe told the story, and the whole world wept
- HymnO Li’l’ lamb out in de col’,
- IfIf life were but a dream, my Love,
- LifeA crust of bread and a corner to sleep in,
- On the RoadI’ S boun’ to see my gal to-night—
- Passion and LoveA Maiden wept and, as a comforter,
- RetortThou art a fool," said my head to my heart,
- We Wear the MaskWe wear the mask that grins and lies,
