Skip to content
Linespedia

The River Of Ruin

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Topics: classic

Along by the river of ruin     They dally--the thoughtless ones,     They dance and they dream     By the side of the stream,     As long as the river runs.     It seems all so pleasant and cheery--     No thought of the morrow is theirs,     And their faces are bright     With the sun of delight,     And they dream of no night-brooding cares.     The women wear garlanded tresses,     The men have rings on their hands,     And they sing in their glee,     For they think they are free--     They that know not the treacherous sands.     Ah, but this be a venturesome journey,     Forever those sands are ashift,     And a step to one side     Means a grasp of the tide,     And the current is fearful and swift.     For once in the river of ruin,     What boots it, to do or to dare,     For down we must go     In the turbulent flow,     To the desolate sea of Despair.

AI analysis available. Enable JavaScript to interact.

About this line

"Along by the river of ruin..."

Paul Laurence Dunbar's contribution to classic is further solidified by the brilliance found in "The River Of Ruin"... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

Attribution & Rights

Author:Paul Laurence Dunbar

"Along by the river of ruin..." by Paul Laurence Dunbar

For usage rights, copyright concerns, or to report an issue with this content, please visit our Copyright & Report page.

Related lines

"As lone I sat one summer's day,     With mien dejected, Love came by;     His face distraught, his locks astray,     So slow his gait, so sad h"

"Come away to dreamin' town,     Mandy Lou, Mandy Lou,     Whaih de skies don' nevah frown,         Mandy Lou;     Whaih he streets is paved"

"Ah me, it is cold and chill     And the fire sobs low in the grate,     While the wind rides by on the hill,     And the logs crack sharp with"

"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"

"Here morning in the ploughman's songs is met     Ere yet one footstep shows in all the sky,     And twilight in the east, a doubt as yet,     S"

"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.

Full Bibliography
Continue Reading

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

Weekly Poetic Insight

Join our literary Sanctuary

Get the most inspiring lines, poetic analysis, and secret shayaris delivered to your inbox every Sunday.