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On The Death Of W. C.

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Topics: classic

Thou arrant robber, Death!     Couldst thou not find     Some lesser one than he     To rob of breath,--     Some poorer mind     Thy prey to be?     His mind was like the sky,--     As pure and free;     His heart was broad and open     As the sea.     His soul shone purely through his face,     And Love made him her dwelling place.     Not less the scholar than the friend,     Not less a friend than man;     The manly life did shorter end     Because so broad it ran.     Weep not for him, unhappy Muse!     His merits found a grander use     Some other-where. God wisely sees     The place that needs his qualities.     Weep not for him, for when Death lowers     O'er youth's ambrosia-scented bowers     He only plucks the choicest flowers.

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"Thou arrant robber, Death!..."

Exploring the themes of classic, Paul Laurence Dunbar delivers a powerful performance in "On The Death Of W. C."... ### 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

"Thou arrant robber, Death!..." by Paul Laurence Dunbar

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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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"As lone I sat one summer's day,     With mien deje..."

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