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Life

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Topics: classic

A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in,     A minute to smile and an hour to weep in,     A pint of joy to a peck of trouble,     And never a laugh but the moans come double;         And that is life!     A crust and a corner that love makes precious,     With a smile to warm and the tears to refresh us;     And joy seems sweeter when cares come after,     And a moan is the finest of foils for laughter;         And that is life!

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"A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in,..."

This evocative piece by Paul Laurence Dunbar, titled "Life", represents a masterful exploration of classic. The lines capture a profound emotional resonance... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

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Author:Paul Laurence Dunbar

"A crust of bread and a corner to sleep in,..." by Paul Laurence Dunbar

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"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

Paul Laurence Dunbar

About Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906) was an American poet and novelist who was one of the first African-American writers to gain national prominence. His poems in dialect—including "When Malindy Sings"—and standard English explore Black life with humor, pathos, and dignity.

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