The Mystery by Paul Laurence Dunbar

View this email on a browser Forward to a friend February 13, 2016   The Mystery   Paul Laurence Dunbar

I was not; now I am—a few days hence I shall not be; I fain would look before And after, but can neither do; some Power Or lack of power says “no” to all I would. I stand upon a wide and sunless plain, Nor chart nor steel to guide my steps aright. Whene’er, o’ercoming fear, I dare to move, I grope without direction and by chance. Some feign to hear a voice and feel a hand That draws them ever upward thro’ the gloom. But I—I hear no voice and touch no hand, Tho’ oft thro’ silence infinite I list, And strain my hearing to supernal sounds; Tho’ oft thro’ fateful darkness do I reach, And stretch my hand to find that other hand. I question of th’ eternal bending skies That seem to neighbor with the novice earth; But they roll on, and daily shut their eyes On me, as I one day shall do on them, And tell me not the secret that I ask.            This poem is in the public domain. About This Poem   “The Mystery” was published in Dunbar’s book Lyrics of Lowly Life (The Century Company, 1895).   Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872, in Dayton, Ohio. He was one of the first African American poets to gain national recognition. His books of poetry include Poems of Cabin and Field (Dodd, Mead & Co.,1899) and Lyrics of the Hearthside (Dodd, Mead & Co., 1899). He died on February 9, 1906. Poetry by Dunbar   Selected Poems (Dover Publications, 1997) "The Bean Eaters" by Gwendolyn Brooks "On Summer" by George Moses Horton "Little Orphant Annie" by James Whitcomb Riley Poem-a-Day   Launched during National Poetry Month in 2006, Poem-a-Day features new and previously unpublished poems by contemporary poets on weekdays and classic poems on weekends. Thanks for being a part of the Academy of American Poets community. To learn about other programs, including National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day, the annual Poets Forum, and more, visit Poets.org.   You are receiving this e-mail because you elected to subscribe to our mailing list. If you would like to unsubscribe, please click here.   © Academy of American Poets 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 901, New York, NY 10038