iss,
Of earth's poor souls thy fortune who can tell?
Perchance thy splendid lot be solely this:
To change thy lute with the angel Israfel!
If so, then smite thy golden strings
With fingers nimble, strong,
Till all along fair heaven rings
With cadence of thy song!

Thee tyrant earth once held, imprisoned soul,
That suffered tortures of relentless strife,
Fair heaven now holds within her sheltered fold,
And gives thee robe and harp--eternal life!
Grant him, O God, unfaltering breath
To sing from heaven afar
A song to cheer our souls in death--
The peerless Paul Dunbar!

WERE I A BIRD

Were I a bird free born to fly
Aloof on two wee, downy wings,
My canopy would be the sky
When rosy morn its dawning springs.

Were I a bird I'd sweetly sing
Earth's vesper song in tree-tops high,
And chant the carol of the Spring
To every weary passer by.

Were I a bird, the sweetest voice
That human ear has ever heard,--
The mocking-bird would be my choice,
For he's the sweetest singing bird!

Were I a bird my life would be
In keeping with the Will divine--
I'd sing His carols full and free
In spreading oak and cony pine!

Were I a bird through air I'd roam,
Just flitting on the morning breeze,
In search of summer's sunny dome,
To live contentedly at ease.

Were I a bird I'd sing a tune
For farmers seeking shady rest
Beneath the spreading oak in June,
In swinging boughs that rock my nest.

Were I a bird I'd scale the cliff
When dawns the bleak December day,
Far from the ice and snow I'd shift
Until the fairest day in May!

Were I a bird, a mocking-bird,
The King of birdie's singing sons,
My music would fore'er be heard
As I sweet sang to cheerless ones.

Were I a bird I'd seek my rest
When jocund Day blows out his light;
In boughs that hover o'er my nest
I'd sweetly sing, "Good Night, Good Night!"

AN ODE TO ETHIOPIA

TO THE ASPIRING NEGRO YOUTH

After years of patient study and historical research, I have
made the following deductions of parts played by the
Ethiopian in the annals of history, under the caption, "An
Ode to Ethiopia." It is true that questions will rise
regarding the racial identity of some of my characters, in
view of historical statements which place them with the
Caucasian race; yet I firmly believe, were impartial history
written, my claims would be justi