Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BARRIER, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BARRIER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The midnight wooed the morning star
Last Line: Lay down in death united!


THE Midnight wooed the Morning-Star,
And prayed her: "Love come nearer;
Your swinging coldly there afar
To me but makes you dearer!"

The Morning-Star was pale with dole
As said she, low replying:
"Oh, lover mine, soul of my soul,
For you I too am sighing.

"But One ordained when we were born,
In spite of Love's insistence,
That Night might only view the Morn
Adoring at a distance."

But as she spoke the jealous Sun
Across the heavens panted.
"Oh, whining fools," he cried, "have done;
Your wishes shall be granted!"

He hurled his flaming lances far;
The twain stood unaffrighted --
And Midnight and the Morning-Star
Lay down in death united!





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