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2 unknown Dunbar poems discovered
DAYTON — Two previously unpublished poems believed to have been written by Paul Laurence Dunbar have come to light in Ohio.
Herbert Martin, University of Dayton professor emeritus, poet in residence and Dunbar scholar, has acquired and judged both to be authentic.
Signed by Dunbar, one was penned on the flyleaf of a book of his poems he presented to fellow black writer Joseph S. Cotter in 1894.
The other, “To Anna C.,” was in the archives of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Library at Wright State University. It was purchased by the library in 2006 from a Dayton area resident, according to Dawne Dewey, head of special collections and archives.
WSU, which honored Martin with an honorary degree in June, gave him a framed copy of the poem as a gift.
“I am certain both poems are in Dunbar’s hand and were written by him. I had never seen either one before,” said Martin, who has studied Dunbar, published works about him and portrayed him in live and recorded performances for 40 years.
“Neither is in any collected edition anywhere. This is a very exciting find.”
Dayton native Dunbar (1872-1906) was the first black American poet and novelist to earn international recognition.
Martin has arranged for the poem to Cotter tp be published this fall in the African American Review, the Modern Language Association’s official journal of black literature and culture. It was written inside a first edition copy of “Oak and Ivy,” Dunbar’s first book of poems, published in 1892.
Cotter (1861-1949) was a black poet and educator who founded the Paul Laurence Dunbar School in Louisville and was the father of poet Joseph S. Cotter Jr.
“I personally have no doubt that the Cotter poem and the one at Wright State are Dunbar’s. The timing is right. The penmanship and, specifically, the signature are his,” Martin said. “There is no evidence anyone has forged his work.”
If further proof is required, “I would take the poems to the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus, where most of his writings are kept, and compare these to his other writings and letters.”
Dewey said the WSU poem is believed to have been written to Anna Coons (the Anna C. of the title), “Census records show that there was a woman of that name living in Dayton at that time.”
For more information about Paul Laurence Dunbar and Dr. Herbert Martin, go to www.dunbarsite.org
Also see Wright State University’s digital Dunbar collection. Go to www.libraries.wright.edu and click on “
Below is a video of Martin reading Dunbar’s poetry.
Here are portions of the two poems:
“To my friend - Joseph S. Cotter December 18th, 1894. “
“I had searched thro’ the world for the world’s greatest treasure —
In the temple of Art, in the palace of Pleasure;
In the marts of the cities where riches and pride
Sprang up from the compost and bloomed side by side.
And still did I search but its prize still eluded,
Till weary of wandering, sad and deluded,
I would fain have abandoned the quest in the end —
But the treasure appeared in the love of a friend.“
Excerpt from “”To Anna C.”
“You laugh, my friend, and say I dote
Upon some maiden’s fancied charms.
Well, list, and I will picture you
The maid who stirred my love to arms.”
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: Literary arts
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By NCF
July 7, 2010 5:13 PM | Link to this
Dang it! This means my Complete Works books is not actually complete. Grrrr.
By Spoken English
July 7, 2010 9:46 PM | Link to this
His poetry excerps are beautiful. I pray that the powers that be, in heaven, where he is, have shielded him from Ebonics.
By Max
July 7, 2010 11:31 PM | Link to this
An acquired taste I suppose…not mine. Give me Whitman any day. Stuff that rhymes and has a beat isn’t free form jazz….In my opinion, over rated and of regional interest only.
By There goes Max again!!!!
July 8, 2010 12:05 AM | Link to this
Max…your calm arrogance was refreshing. I was hoping you’d go on a tirade like you did about cussing in public. Tired?….a little sleepy, Max? Go nigh-nigh, Max. The boredom you exude towards all not as erudite as you can continue when you’re refreshed in the morning. Sleepy poo, Max.