THE COMPLETE POEMS OF PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
WITH THE INTRODUCTION TO "LYRICS OF LOWLY LIFE"
BY
W. D. HOWELLS
NEW YORK
DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY
1922
Copyright 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905 By The Century Co.
Copyright 1897, 1898, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905 By The Curtis Publishing Co.
Copyright 1898 By The Outlook Co.
Copyright 1898 By J. B. Walker
Copyright 1903 By W. H. Gannett
Copyright 1896, 1899, 1903, 1905, 1913 By DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY
PRINTED IN U. S. A.
DEDICATIONS
LYRICS OF LOWLY LIFE
TO
MY MOTHER
LYRICS OF THE HEARTHSIDE
TO
ALICE
LYRICS OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER
TO
MISS CATHERINE IMPEY
LYRICS OF SUNSHINE AND SHADOW
TO
MRS. FRANK CONOVER WITH THANKS FOR HER LONG BELIEF
INTRODUCTION TO LYRICS OF LOWLY LIFE
I think I should scarcely trouble the reader with a special appeal in behalf of this book, if it had not specially appealed to me for reasons apart from the author's race, origin, and condition. The world is too old now, and I find myself too much of its mood, to care for the work of a poet because he is black, because his father and mother were slaves, because he was, before and after he began to write poems, an elevator-boy. These facts would certainly attract me to him as a man, if I knew him to have a literary ambition, but when it came to his literary art, I must judge it irrespective of these facts, and enjoy or endure it for what it was in itself.
It seems to me that this was my experience with the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar when I found it in another form, and in justice to him I cannot wish that it should be otherwise with his readers here. Still, it will legitimately interest those who like to know the causes, or, if these may not be known, the sources, of things, to learn that the father and mother of the first poet of his race in our language were negroes without admixture of white blood. The father escaped from slavery in Kentucky to freedom in Canada, while there was still no hope of freedom otherwise; but the mother was freed by the events of the civil war, and came North to Ohio, where their son was born at Dayton, and grew up with such chances and mischances for mental training as everywhere befall the children of the poor. He has told me that his father picked up the trade of a plasterer, and when he had taught himself to read, loved chiefly to read history. The boy's mother shared his passion for literature, with a special love of poetry, and after the father died she struggled on in more than the
poverty she had shared with him. She could value the faculty which her son showed first in prose sketches and attempts at fiction, and she was proud of the praise and kindness they won him among the people of the town, where he has never been without the warmest and kindest friends.
In fact from every part of Ohio and from several cities of the adjoining States, there came letters in cordial appreciation of the critical recognition which it was my pleasure no less than my duty to offer Paul Dunbar's work in another place. It seemed to me a happy omen for him that so many people who had known him, or known of him, were glad of a stranger's good word; and it was gratifying to see that at home he was esteemed for the things he had done rather than because as the son of negro slaves he had done them. If a prophet is often without honor in his own country, it surely is nothing against him when he has it. In this case it deprived me of the glory of a discoverer; but that is sometimes a barren joy, and I am always willing to forego it.
What struck me in reading Mr. Dunbar's poetry was what had already struck his friends in Ohio and Indiana, in Kentucky and Illinois. They had felt, as I felt, that however gifted his race had proven itself in music, in oratory, in several of the other arts, here was the first instance of an American negro who had evinced innate distinction in literature. In my criticism of his book I had alleged Dumas in France, and I had forgetfully failed to allege the far greater Pushkin in Russia; but these were both mulattoes, who might have been supposed to derive their qualities from white blood vastly more artistic than ours, and who were the creatures of an environment more favorable to their literary development. So far as I could remember, Paul Dunbar was the only man of pure African blood and of American civilization to feel the negro life aesthetically and express it lyrically. It seemed to me that this had come to its most modern consciousness in him, and that his brilliant and unique achievement was to have studied the American negro objectively, and to have represented
him as he found him to be, with humor, with sympathy, and yet with what the reader must instinctively feel to be entire truthfulness. I said that a race which had come to this effect in any member of it, had attained civilization in him, and I permitted myself the imaginative prophecy that the hostilities and the prejudices which had so long constrained his race were destined to vanish in the arts; that these were to be the final proof that God had made of one blood all nations of men. I thought his merits positive and not comparative; and I held that if his black poems had been written by a white man, I should not have found them less admirable. I accepted them as an evidence of the essential unity of the human race, which does not think or feel, black in one and white in another, but humanly in all.
Yet it appeared to me then, and it appears to me now, that there is a precious difference of temperament between the races which it would be a great pity ever to lose, and that this is best preserved and most charmingly suggested by Mr. Dunbar in those pieces of his where he studies the moods and traits of his race in its own accent of our English. We call such pieces dialect pieces for want of some closer phrase, but they are really not dialect so much as delightful personal attempts and failures for the written and spoken language. In nothing is his essentially refined and delicate art so well shown as in these pieces, which, as I ventured to say, described the range between appetite and emotion, with certain lifts far beyond and above it, which is the range of the race. He reveals in these a finely ironical perception of the negro's limitations, with a tenderness for them which I think so very rare as to be almost quite new. I should say, perhaps, that it was this humorous quality which Mr. Dunbar had added to our literature, and it would be this which would most
distinguish him, now and hereafter. It is something that one feels in nearly all the dialect pieces; and I hope that in the present collection he has kept all of these in his earlier volume, and added others to them. But the contents of this book are wholly of his own choosing, and I do not know how much or little he may have preferred the poems in literary English. Some of these I thought very good, and even more than very good, but not distinctively his contribution to the body of American poetry. What I mean is that several people might have written them; but I do not know any one else at present who could quite have written the dialect pieces. These are divinations and reports of what passes in the hearts and minds of a lowly people whose poetry had hitherto been inarticulately expressed in music, but now finds, for the first time in our tongue, literary interpretation of a very artistic completeness.
I say the event is interesting, but how important it shall be can be determined only by Mr. Dunbar's future performance. I cannot undertake to prophesy concerning this; but if he should do nothing more than he has done, I should feel that he had made the strongest claim for the negro in English literature that the negro has yet made. He has at least produced something that, however we may critically disagree about it, we cannot well refuse to enjoy; in more than one piece he has produced a work of art.
W. D. HOWELLS.
INDEX OF FIRST LINES
[Pg 3]
LYRICS OF LOWLY LIFE
ERE SLEEP COMES DOWN TO SOOTHE THE WEARY EYES
THE POET AND HIS SONG
RETORT
ACCOUNTABILITY
FREDERICK DOUGLASS
LIFE
THE LESSON
THE RISING OF THE STORM
SUNSET
THE OLD APPLE-TREE
A PRAYER
PASSION AND LOVE
THE SEEDLING
PROMISE
FULFILMENT.
SONG
AN ANTE-BELLUM SERMON
ODE TO ETHIOPIA
THE CORN-STALK FIDDLE
THE MASTER-PLAYER
THE MYSTERY
NOT THEY WHO SOAR
WHITTIER
TWO SONGS
A BANJO SONG
LONGING
THE PATH
THE LAWYERS' WAYS
ODE FOR MEMORIAL DAY
PREMONITION
RETROSPECTION
UNEXPRESSED
SONG OF SUMMER
SPRING SONG
TO LOUISE
THE RIVALS
THE LOVER AND THE MOON
CONSCIENCE AND REMORSE
IONE
I
II
III
RELIGION
DEACON JONES' GRIEVANCE
ALICE
AFTER THE QUARREL
BEYOND THE YEARS
I
II
III
AFTER A VISIT
CURTAIN
THE SPELLIN'-BEE
KEEP A-PLUGGIN' AWAY
NIGHT OF LOVE
COLUMBIAN ODE
I
II
III
A BORDER BALLAD
AN EASY-GOIN' FELLER
A NEGRO LOVE SONG
THE DILETTANTE: A MODERN TYPE
BY THE STREAM
THE COLORED SOLDIERS
NATURE AND ART
TO MY FRIEND CHARLES BOOTH NETTLETON
I
II
AFTER WHILE
A POEM OF FAITH
THE OL' TUNES
MELANCHOLIA
THE WOOING
MERRY AUTUMN
WHEN DE CO'N PONE'S HOT
BALLAD
THE CHANGE HAS COME
COMPARISON
A CORN-SONG
DISCOVERED
DISAPPOINTED
INVITATION TO LOVE
HE HAD HIS DREAM
GOOD-NIGHT
A COQUETTE CONQUERED
NORA: A SERENADE
OCTOBER
A SUMMER'S NIGHT
SHIPS THAT PASS IN THE NIGHT
THE DELINQUENT
Ef 't had n't a' b'en fur you, you slow ole fool, I 'd a' be'n home long fo' now!
DAWN
A DROWSY DAY
DIRGE
HYMN
PREPARATION
THE DESERTED PLANTATION
THE SECRET
THE WIND AND THE SEA
RIDING TO TOWN
WE WEAR THE MASK
THE MEADOW LARK
ONE LIFE
CHANGING TIME
DEAD
A CONFIDENCE
PHYLLIS
RIGHT'S SECURITY
IF
THE SONG
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
WHY FADES A DREAM?
THE SPARROW
SPEAKIN' O' CHRISTMAS
LONESOME
GROWIN' GRAY
TO THE MEMORY OF MARY YOUNG
WHEN MALINDY SINGS
THE PARTY
[Pg 89]
LYRICS OF THE HEARTHSIDE
LOVE'S APOTHEOSIS
THE PARADOX
OVER THE HILLS
WITH THE LARK
IN SUMMER
THE MYSTIC SEA
A SAILOR'S SONG
THE BOHEMIAN
ABSENCE
HER THOUGHT AND HIS
THE RIGHT TO DIE
BEHIND THE ARRAS
WHEN THE OLD MAN SMOKES
THE GARRET
TO E. H. K.
ON THE RECEIPT OF A FAMILIAR POEM
A BRIDAL MEASURE
VENGEANCE IS SWEET
A HYMN
AFTER READING "LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT."
JUST WHISTLE A BIT
THE BARRIER
DREAMS
THE DREAMER
WAITING
THE END OF THE CHAPTER
SYMPATHY
LOVE AND GRIEF
LOVE'S CHASTENING
MORTALITY
LOVE
SHE GAVE ME A ROSE
DREAM SONG I
DREAM SONG II
CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART
THE KING IS DEAD
THEOLOGY
RESIGNATION
LOVE'S HUMILITY
PRECEDENT
SHE TOLD HER BEADS
LITTLE LUCY LANDMAN
THE GOURD
THE KNIGHT
THOU ART MY LUTE
THE PHANTOM KISS
COMMUNION
MARE RUBRUM
IN AN ENGLISH GARDEN
THE CRISIS
THE CONQUERORS
THE BLACK TROOPS IN CUBA
ALEXANDER CRUMMELL—DEAD
WHEN ALL IS DONE
THE POET AND THE BABY
DISTINCTION
THE SUM
SONNET
ON AN OLD BOOK WITH UNCUT LEAVES
ON THE SEA WALL
TO A LADY PLAYING THE HARP
CONFESSIONAL
MISAPPREHENSION
PROMETHEUS
LOVE'S PHASES
FOR THE MAN WHO FAILS
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE
VAGRANTS
A WINTER'S DAY
MY LITTLE MARCH GIRL
REMEMBERED
LOVE DESPOILED
THE LAPSE
THE WARRIOR'S PRAYER
FAREWELL TO ARCADY
THE VOICE OF THE BANJO
THE STIRRUP CUP
A CHOICE
[Pg 129]
HUMOUR AND DIALECT
THEN AND NOW
THEN
NOW
AT CHESHIRE CHEESE
MY CORN-COB PIPE
IN AUGUST
THE DISTURBER
EXPECTATION
LOVER'S LANE
PROTEST
HYMN
LITTLE BROWN BABY
TIME TO TINKER 'ROUN'!
THE REAL QUESTION
JILTED
THE NEWS
CHRISMUS ON THE PLANTATION
ANGELINA
FOOLIN' WID DE SEASONS
MY SORT O' MAN
POSSUM
ON THE ROAD
A DEATH SONG
A BACK-LOG SONG
LULLABY
THE PHOTOGRAPH
JEALOUS
PARTED
TEMPTATION
POSSUM TROT
DELY
BREAKING THE CHARM
HUNTING SONG
A LETTER
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN'
A CABIN TALE
THE YOUNG MASTER ASKS FOR A STORY
AT CANDLE-LIGHTIN' TIME
WHISTLING SAM
HOW LUCY BACKSLID
[Pg 163]
LYRICS OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER
TWO LITTLE BOOTS
TO THE ROAD
A SPRING WOOING
JOGGIN' ERLONG
IN MAY
DREAMS
THE TRYST
A PLEA
THE DOVE
A WARM DAY IN WINTER
SNOWIN'
KEEP A SONG UP ON DE WAY
THE TURNING OF THE BABIES IN THE BED
THE DANCE
SOLILOQUY OF A TURKEY
FISHING
A PLANTATION PORTRAIT
A LITTLE CHRISTMAS BASKET
THE VALSE
REPONSE
MY SWEET BROWN GAL
SPRING FEVER
THE VISITOR
SONG
THE COLORED BAND
TO A VIOLET FOUND ON ALL SAINTS' DAY
INSPIRATION
MY LADY OF CASTLE GRAND
DRIZZLE
DE CRITTERS' DANCE
WHEN DEY 'LISTED COLORED SOLDIERS
LINCOLN
ENCOURAGEMENT
THE BOOGAH MAN
THE WRAITH
SILENCE
WHIP-POOR-WILL AND KATY-DID
'LONG TO'DS NIGHT
A GRIEVANCE
DINAH KNEADING DOUGH
TO A CAPTIOUS CRITIC
DAT OL' MARE O' MINE
IN THE MORNING
THE POET
A FLORIDA NIGHT
DIFFERENCES
LONG AGO
A PLANTATION MELODY
A SPIRITUAL
THE MEMORY OF MARTHA
W'EN I GITS HOME
"HOWDY, HONEY, HOWDY!"
THE UNSUNG HEROES
THE POOL
POSSESSION
THE OLD FRONT GATE
DIRGE FOR A SOLDIER
A FROLIC
NODDIN' BY DE FIRE
LOVE'S CASTLE
MORNING SONG OF LOVE
ON A CLEAN BOOK
TO F. N.
TO THE EASTERN SHORE
RELUCTANCE
BALLADE
L'ENVOI.
SPEAKIN' AT DE COU'T-HOUSE
BLACK SAMSON OF BRANDYWINE
THE LOOKING-GLASS
A MISTY DAY
LI'L' GAL
DOUGLASS
WHEN SAM'L SINGS
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
THE MONK'S WALK
LOVE-SONG
SLOW THROUGH THE DARK
THE MURDERED LOVER
PHILOSOPHY
A PREFERENCE
THE DEBT
ON THE DEDICATION OF DOROTHY HALL
TUSKEGEE, ALA., APRIL 22, 1901.
A ROADWAY
BY RUGGED WAYS
LOVE'S SEASONS
TO A DEAD FRIEND
TO THE SOUTH
ON ITS NEW SLAVERY
THE HAUNTED OAK
WELTSCHMERTZ
ROBERT GOULD SHAW
ROSES
A LOVE SONG
ITCHING HEELS
TO AN INGRATE
IN THE TENTS OF AKBAR
THE FOUNT OF TEARS
LIFE'S TRAGEDY
DE WAY T'INGS COME
NOON
AT THE TAVERN
DEATH
NIGHT, DIM NIGHT
[Pg 231]
LYRICS OF LOVE AND SORROW
I
II
III
IV
V
[Pg 235]
LYRICS OF SUNSHINE AND SHADOW
A BOY'S SUMMER SONG
THE SAND-MAN
JOHNNY SPEAKS
WINTER-SONG
A CHRISTMAS FOLKSONG
THE FOREST GREETING
THE LILY OF THE VALLEY
ENCOURAGED
TO J. Q.
DIPLOMACY
SCAMP
WADIN' IN DE CRICK
THE QUILTING
PARTED
FOREVER
THE PLANTATION CHILD'S LULLABY
TWILIGHT
CURIOSITY
OPPORTUNITY
PUTTIN' THE BABY AWAY
THE FISHER CHILD'S LULLABY
FAITH
THE FARM CHILD'S LULLABY
THE PLACE WHERE THE RAINBOW ENDS
HOPE
APPRECIATION
A SONG
DAY
TO DAN
WHAT'S THE USE
A LAZY DAY
ADVICE
LIMITATIONS
A GOLDEN DAY
THE UNLUCKY APPLE
THE DISCOVERY
MORNING
THE AWAKENING
LOVE'S DRAFT
A MUSICAL
TWELL DE NIGHT IS PAS'
BLUE
DREAMIN' TOWN
AT NIGHT
KIDNAPED
COMPENSATION
WINTER'S APPROACH
ANCHORED
THE VETERAN
YESTERDAY AND TO-MORROW
THE CHANGE
THE CHASE
SUPPOSE
THE DEATH OF THE FIRST BORN
BEIN' BACK HOME
THE OLD CABIN
DESPAIR
CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES
TILL THE WIND GETS RIGHT
A SUMMER NIGHT
AT SUNSET TIME
NIGHT
AT LOAFING-HOLT
WHEN A FELLER'S ITCHIN' TO BE SPANKED
THE RIVER OF RUIN
TO HER
A LOVE LETTER
AFTER MANY DAYS
LIZA MAY
THE MASTERS
TROUBLE IN DE KITCHEN
CHRISTMAS
ROSES AND PEARLS
RAIN-SONGS
A LOST DREAM
A SONG
[Pg 275]
MISCELLANEOUS
THE CAPTURE
WHEN WINTER DARKENING ALL AROUND
FROM THE PORCH AT RUNNYMEDE
EQUIPMENT
EVENING
TO PFRIMMER
TO THE MIAMI
CHRISTMAS CAROL
A SUMMER PASTORAL
IN SUMMER TIME
A THANKSGIVING POEM
NUTTING SONG
LOVE'S PICTURES
THE OLD HOMESTEAD
ON THE DEATH OF W. C.
AN OLD MEMORY
A CAREER
ON THE RIVER
POOR WITHERED ROSE
WORN OUT
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY
A MADRIGAL
A STARRY NIGHT
A LYRIC
HOW SHALL I WOO THEE
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