Poem Of The Week: In Summer

 

Being that summer is unfortunately coming to an end, this week on Poem Of The Week, I personally wanted to have a theme that is based on the season. Although unfortunately it hasn’t gone as planned for a certain people and otherwise for others. I would like to introduce Dayton, Ohio native Paul Laurence Dunbar. Born June of the year 1872 and living on until February of 1906, he was well known for being a poet, novelist, and playwright of the late 19th century and early 20th century.  All While  being a Howard University graduate. As for his piece In Summer, he paints an image of how the summer time experience during his day in age. One that is very comparable to modern day, of course except for technology advances and the notorious Covid-19.

In the poem he states:

Oh, summer has clothed the earth
In a cloak from the loom of the sun!
And a mantle, too, of the skies’ soft blue,
And a belt where the rivers run.

And now for the kiss of the wind,
And the touch of the air’s soft hands,
With the rest from strife and the heat of life,
With the freedom of lakes and lands.

I envy the farmer’s boy
Who sings as he follows the plow;
While the shining green of the young blades lean
To the breezes that cool his brow.

He sings to the dewy morn,
No thought of another’s ear;
But the song he sings is a chant for kings
And the whole wide world to hear.

He sings of the joys of life,
Of the pleasures of work and rest,
From an o’erfull heart, without aim or art;
‘T is a song of the merriest.

O ye who toil in the town,
And ye who moil in the mart,
Hear the artless song, and your faith made strong
Shall renew your joy of heart.

Oh, poor were the worth of the world
If never a song were heard,—
If the sting of grief had no relief,
And never a heart were stirred.

So, long as the streams run down,
And as long as the robins trill,
Let us taunt old Care with a merry air,
And sing in the face of ill.

A very blissful piece, hopefully with the intent to put consumers in good spirits as for this summer may have been a waste to many, continue to look ahead because better days are to look forward to and manifest into near reality.