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When Winter Darkening All Around

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Topics: classic

When winter covering all the ground     Hides every sign of Spring, sir.     However you may look around,     Pray what will then you sing, sir?     The Spring was here last year I know,     And many bards did flute, sir;     I shall not fear a little snow     Forbid me from my lute, sir.     If words grow dull and rhymes grow rare,     I'll sing of Spring's farewell, sir.     For every season steals an air,     Which has a Springtime smell, sir.     But if upon the other side,     With passionate longing burning,     Will seek the half unjeweled tide,     And sing of Spring's returning.

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Author:Paul Laurence Dunbar

"When winter covering all the ground..." 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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