Page:The complete poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar.pdf/90

  And their deeds shall find a record
 * In the registry of Fame;

For their blood has cleansed completely
 * Every blot of Slavery's shame.

So all honor and all glory
 * To those noble sons of Ham—

The gallant colored soldiers
 * Who fought for Uncle Sam!

 

young queen Nature, ever sweet and fair,
 * Once on a time fell upon evil days.
 * From hearing oft herself discussed with praise,

There grew within her heart the longing rare To see herself; and every passing air
 * The warm desire fanned into lusty blaze.
 * Full oft she sought this end by devious ways,

But sought in vain, so fell she in despair. For none within her train nor by her side
 * Could solve the task or give the envied boon.
 * So day and night, beneath the sun and moon,

She wandered to and fro unsatisfied,
 * Till Art came by, a blithe inventive elf,
 * And made a glass wherein she saw herself.

Enrapt, the queen gazed on her glorious self,
 * Then trembling with the thrill of sudden thought,
 * Commanded that the skilful wight be brought

That she might dower him with lands and pelf. Then out upon the silent sea-lapt shelf
 * And up the hills and on the downs they sought
 * Him who so well and wondrously had wrought;

And with much search found and brought home the elf.
 * But he put by all gifts with sad replies,

And from his lips these words flowed forth like wine:
 * "O queen, I want no gift but thee," he said.

She heard and looked on him with love-lit eyes, Gave him her hand, low murmuring, "I am thine,"
 * And at the morrow's dawning they were wed.

