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1872–1906

TO A LADY PLAYING THE HARP

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Thy tones are silver melted into sound, And as I dream I see no walls around, But seem to hear

A gondolier Sing sweetly down some slow Venetian stream. Italian skies — that I have never seen — I see above.

( Ah, play again, my queen; Thy fingers white Fly swift and light And weave for me the golden mesh of love. )

Oh, thou dusk sorceress of the dusky eyes And soft dark hair, ‘ T is thou that mak'st my skies So swift to change

To far and strange: But far and strange, thou still dost make them fair. Now thou dost sing, and I am lost in thee As one who drowns

In floods of melody. Still in thy art Give me this part, Till perfect love, the love of loving crowns.

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TO A LADY PLAYING THE HARP · Paul Laurence Dunbar · Poetry Cove