The Debt - A poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar


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Paul Laurence Dunbar - The Debt

This is the debt I pay 
Just for one riotous day,
Years of regret and grief,
Sorrow without relief.
Pay it I will to the end --
Until the grave, my friend,
Gives me a true release --
Gives me the clasp of peace.
Slight was the thing I bought,
Small was the debt I thought,
Poor was the loan at best --
God! but the interest!

Added: on May 19th, 2005 at 8:31 AM | Viewed: 2004 times | Comments and analysis of The Debt by Paul Laurence Dunbar Comments (1)

The Debt - Comments and Information
Poet: Paul Laurence Dunbar Poem: The Debt Comment 1 of 1, added on May 19th, 2005 at 8:31 AM. My husband suggested that I use this poem as a follow up to a field trip that I took with some of my middle school students to a prison yesterday. These boys have multiple disciplinary referrals and participated in a program called Project Aware where inmates with natural life sentences try to sway the behaviors of young children with a riveting and authentic presentation. The words of the poem are so strong that maybe after yesterday, it will get through to my boys. Desiree Moore from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, The Debt, has received one comment so far. Click here to read it, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Paul Laurence Dunbar Poem: The Debt Last read: Jul 25 2008, 2:21AM Viewed 2004 times. Added on May 19th, 2005 at 8:31 AM.

Dunbar Info
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