Living

Compensation

by Paul Laurence Dunbar 1872–1906

Living

Because I had loved so deeply,
Because I had loved so long,
God in His great compassion
Gave me the gift of song.

Because I have loved so vainly,
And sung with such faltering breath,
The Master in infinite mercy
Offers the boon of Death.

MLA

Dunbar, Paul Laurence. “Compensation.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/paul-laurence-dunbar/365/.

Chicago

Dunbar, Paul Laurence. “Compensation.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/paul-laurence-dunbar/365/.

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