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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE KING IS DEAD, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poet's Biography First Line: Aye, lay him in his grave, the old dead year Last Line: "the king is dead! Long live the king!" | |||
AYE, lay him in his grave, the old dead year! His life is lived -- fulfilled his destiny. Have you for him no sad, regretful tear To drop beside the cold, unfollowed bier? Can you not pay the tribute of a sigh? Was he not kind to you, this dead old year? Did he not give enough of earthly store? Enough of love, and laughter, and good cheer? Have not the skies you scanned sometimes been clear? How, then, of him who dies, could you ask more? It is not well to hate him for the pain He brought you, and the sorrows manifold. To pardon him these hurts still I am fain; For in the panting period of his reign, He brought me new wounds, but he healed the old. One little sigh for thee, my poor, dead friend -- One little sigh while my companions sing. Thou art so soon forgotten in the end; We cry e'en as thy footsteps downward tend: "The king is dead! long live the king!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BOY'S SUMMER SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A CHRISTMAS FOLKSONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A CORN SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A DEATH SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A HYMN; AFTER READING 'LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT' by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A LITTLE CHRISTMAS BASKET by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A LOVE LETTER by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A LOVE SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A MUSICAL by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A NEGRO LOVE SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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