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Paul Laurence Dunbar - The Paradox

I am the mother of sorrows, 
I am the ender of grief; 
I am the bud and the blossom, 
I am the late-falling leaf.

I am thy priest and thy poet, 
I am thy serf and thy king; 
I cure the tears of the heartsick, 
When I come near they shall sing.

White are my hands as the snowdrop; 
Swart are my fingers as clay; 
Dark is my frown as the midnight, 
Fair is my brow as the day.

Battle and war are my minions, 
Doing my will as divine; 
I am the calmer of passions, 
Peace is a nursling of mine.

Speak to me gently or curse me, 
Seek me or fly from my sight; 
I am thy fool in the morning, 
Thou art my slave in the night.

Down to the grave I will take thee, 
Out from the noise of the strife, 
Then shalt thou see me and know me-- 
Death, then, no longer, but life.

Then shalt thou sing at my coming, 
Kiss me with passionate breath, 
Clasp me and smile to have thought me 
Aught save the foeman of death.

Come to me, brother, when weary, 
Come when thy lonely heart swells; 
I'll guide thy footsteps and lead thee 
Down where the Dream Woman dwells. 

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Added: Mar 17 2005 | Viewed: 15105 times | Comments and analysis of The Paradox by Paul Laurence Dunbar Comments (4)

The Paradox - Comments and Information

Poet: Paul Laurence Dunbar
Poem: The Paradox
Poem of the Day: Dec 16 2012

Comment 4 of 4, added on April 28th, 2013 at 7:45 PM.

Remove my comment since I have a problem with the syntax that I posted. Thank you.


Comment 3 of 4, added on April 23rd, 2013 at 6:15 PM.
The Paradox

The Paradox is about the fleeting valor, honor, and glory encountered on the Civil War battlefield when the enemy has inflicted a mortal blow and death is imminent, and one knows they are on their way to a new and eternal life that is better than this pain and grief ridden earthly life that will be left behind.

Maya from United States
Comment 2 of 4, added on May 10th, 2011 at 11:11 PM.
Paradox

The Paradox focuses on an apparent contradiction that defies normal logic and the either/or choices of dualistic thinking. Paradox—from Zen koans to biblical narratives—is a time-honored way to reach for a form of truth known in spiritual circles as “The Mystery.”

M. Gaffigan

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