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Paul Laurence Dunbar

How Shall I Woo Thee

How shall I woo thee to win thee, mine own?
Say in what tongue shall I tell of my love.
I who was fearless so timid have grown,
All that was eagle has turned into dove.
The path from the meadow that leads to the bars
Is more to me now than the path of the stars.
 
How shall I woo thee to win thee, mine own,
Thou who art fair and as far as the moon?
Had I the strength of the torrent’s wild tone,
Had I the sweetness of warblers in June;
The strength and the sweetness might charm and persuade,
But neither have I my petition to aid.
 
How shall I woo thee to win thee, mine own?
How shall I traverse the distance between
My humble cot and your glorious throne?
How shall a clown gain the ear of a queen?
Oh teach me the tongue that shall please thee the best,
For till I have won thee my heart may not rest.

#AmericanWriters

Other works by Paul Laurence Dunbar...
A Career

Break me my bounds, and let me fly To regions vast of boundless sky; Nor I, like piteous Daphne, be Root—bound. Ah, no! I would be fr… As yon same bird that in its fligh…
At Night

Whut time 'd dat clock strike? Nine? No—eight; I didn’t think hit was so late. Aer chew! I must 'a’ got a cough, I raally b’lieve I did doze off—
A Negro Love Song

Seen my lady home las’ night, Jump back, honey, jump back. Hel’ huh han’ an’ sque’z it tight, Jump back, honey, jump back. Hyeahd huh sigh a little sigh,
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A Back-Log Song

De axes has been ringin’ in de woo… An’ de chips has been a—fallin’ fa… Dey has cut de bigges’ hick’ry dat… An’ dey’s laid hit down and soaked… Den dey tuk hit to de big house an…
The Spellin'-Bee

I NEVER shall furgit that night… An’ all us youngsters clambered in… To school where we was kep’ at wor… But where that night a spellin’—be… 'Twas one o’ Heaven’s banner nigh…
Circumstances Alter Cases

TIM Murphy’s gon’ walkin’ wid Ma… O chone! If I was her muther, I’d frown on… O chone! I’m sure its unmutherlike, darin’…
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 —
When All Is Done

When all is done, and my last word… And ye who loved me murmur, ‘He i… Let no one weep, for fear that I… And sorrow too that ye should sorr… When all is done and in the oozing…
The Photograph

See dis pictyah in my han’? Dat’s my gal; Ain’t she purty? goodness lan’! Huh name Sal. Dat’s de very way she be—
Trouble in De Kitchen

DEY was oncet a awful quoil 'twix… De pot was des a—bilin’ an’ de ski… Dey slurred each othah’s colah an’… W’ile de coal—oil can des gu—gled,… De pot, hit called de skillet des…
The Unlucky Apple

'Twas the apple that in Eden Caused our father’s primal fall; And the Trojan War, remember — 'Twas an apple caused it all. So for weeks I’ve hesitated,
Yesterday and To-Morrow

YESTERDAY I held your hand, Reverently I pressed it, And its gentle yieldingness From my soul I blessed it. But to—day I sit alone,
The Party

DEY had a gread big pahty down to… Was I dah? You bet! I neveh in m… All de folks f’om fou’ plantations… Dey come troopin’ thick ez chillun… Evahbody dressed deir fines’—Heis…
On a Clean Book

TO F. N. Like sea—washed sand upon the shor… So fine and clean the tale, So clear and bright I almost see, The flashing of a sail.
Confirmation

He was a poet who wrote clever ver… And folks said he had a fine poeti… But his father, a practical farmer… Of letting the strength of his arm… He called on his sweetheart each…



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