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Lyrics of the Hearthside

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

The Barrier

Additional Information
  • Year Published: 1913
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: United States of America
  • Source: Dunbar, P.L. (1913). The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company.
  • Readability:
    • Flesch–Kincaid Level: 6.5
  • Word Count: 130
  • Genre: Poetry
  • Keywords: life, love, soul
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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!