Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-15
SONGS OF THE NEGRO POET.

SONGS OF THE NEGRO POET.
~: he progressed ON his brief career.
the late Paul Laurence Dunbar. the first
"i American negro poets to win a place
an the c0untry's contemporary literature.
turned ever more insstently to the dia-
lcct and the life of his race. It's humor
and its rathos. its moods of reckless
mirth and profound melancholy found in
him their most sympathetic Interpreter.
until gradually the readers of current
verse heGan to forget the work of Dunbar
in English verse.
Some examples of his work in his differ
cnt manners are given here.
Harriet Bcccher Stowe.
She told the story, and the whole world
wcpt
Al wrongs and crucltics it had not known
tut for this fearless womans voice alone.
She spoke to cOnscicnccs that long had
slept:
Her message. Freedoms clear revcillc,
From needless hovcl to compaccnt
throne.
Command and prophecy were in the tone,
And from its sheath the sword OF justic"
lcapt
Around two peoples swellcd Il fiery wave,
But both came forth transIigurcd from
the llamc.
Ecst bc the hand that dared be strong
And blest b" she who in our weakness
Prophet and prcstcss. At one stroke
she CAV"
A race to freedom ana herself to fame.
Hymn.
Oh. li'F lamb out in de col,
DE Mastal call you to dc fol-,
. liz lamb!
lie hycah you bl"atm on dc hill;
Come hycah an keep go Dou MIN Still
liz lamb.
De Mastal son &c Shcpud fo'f;
lie w;tnduh souf. he wandah nuf,
. liz lamb!
lie wandah cas- Ii" w.,ndah wcs,
Dc win ;-wIrnchin at his brcas'.
o hl' lamb.
oh, tell dc Shcpud whaih you hide,
He want YOU w:,lkIn by his side,
q liz lamb.
He know you weak. nc know YOU 50;
But come. don't stay away no mo.
. liz lamb.
An IF ah while dc lamb he hyeah
DE Shcpud'< voic" a-cailin' cicah-
Sweet liz lamb.
He ansvah f'nm dc brlmblcs thick,
20 Shcpud, Is a-comin' quick -
. liz lamb.
A Corn Song.
ON the wide vcranda white.
In the purple falling light
Sits the master while the sun IS loWlY
burning;
And his dreamy thoughts are drowned
In the softly flowing sound
OF the cnrn-songs of the ticld-hands SLOW
returning.
Oh we hoe Dc con
Since de chly mon;
Now dc Sinkin' sun
Says de day is done.
O',r the fields will, heavy tread.
Light OF heart and high OF head.
Though the h,ltng steps be laborcd
slow and W. AIRY;
Still the spirits brave and StrCng
Fine! Il comforter in song.
! And their corn-sonS rises loud aEo
cherry.
| Oh we hoe dc con
Since de chly mon:
Nov de sinkin' sun
Says dc day is done.
| 10 Inc nElSttr Ill MS St'tt-
| Comes the burden full and sweet,
| OF the mellow minor music growing clear
or,
| AS the to;lcrs raise til" hvmn.
TurO the silence dusk and dim,
| Tc the cabins rcstful shelter drawing.
| nearer.
Oh. we hoe de- con
Since de chly mon;
| Now d" SiullIn' sun
Says dc day is done.
| Aud Il tear is in the eye
| OF the master sitting by.
| hc he listens To the "Ch0S low replying,
| To the muSic'S fading calls.
| As it faints away and falls
! Into silence deep within tic CABIN dying
oh. W.. hos. dc co n
Since de chly no n,
| Now Il" Sinl,iu' san
Says Il" day IS Gone.
Requiem.
Lay me down bcnclf de wllers in d.
grass,
! WI,ah dc hranch'Il 20 4 -sinsin' as it pass
| I'm when Is liyin' i'rN.
| kin hycah il as il 20
Singin', Sleep. my honey, TEX so res al
| las"
! Lay M nigh to whah hit mehs little
| pObi.
| An tie w-i::,ii %tan'S 50 quiet lax an cool
| Whah a" little birds in spring
! l';t to come an drink an sing,
! An d. chillcn waited on dry way L
! school.
Ict me settle wen my sllo,ldal.s drap'
tlcY' !oal
| Nigh enough to hycah d" noises in d'
| road:
| F,l' t';mk d., las long res
! t;wirI,. to So0th" ma %pcrrit bc%
| If - lHviu' 'mDnS de things : allu'
kuoWcd.
! Paul Laurence Dunbar.
STATE NEWS.
kNDROSCOGG!N.
WALES.
The farmers are finishing harvesting
their icc. A large amount Of ice IS put
! III every year.
! Eugene Frost bought Il pair of WORK
L. t,,.- l. e Il It.lC