Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IF, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poet's Biography First Line: If life were but a dream, my love Last Line: To suffer and to love! Subject(s): Life | ||||||||
IF life were but a dream, my Love, And death the waking time; If day had not a beam, my Love, And night had not a rhyme, -- A barren, barren world were this Without one saving gleam; I'd only ask that with a kiss You'd wake me from the dream. If dreaming were the sum of days, And loving were the bane; If battling for a wreath of bays Could soothe a heart in pain, -- I'd scorn the meed of battle's might, All other aims above I'd choose the human's higher right, To suffer and to love! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...PRIVILEGE OF BEING by ROBERT HASS SEAWATER STIFFENS CLOTH by JANE HIRSHFIELD SAYING YES TO LIVING by DAVID IGNATOW THE WORLD IS SO DIFFICULT TO GIVE UP by DAVID IGNATOW A BANJO SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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