Fraiku: Paul Laurence Dunbar

Posted on 2024-02-16 by Bartholomew Barker

He wears the mask
while driving elevators
poetry rises

For Black History Month, a haiku to honor my fellow Ohioan and poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1872-1906. The first line references his great poem We Wear the Mask.

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About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.
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26 Responses to Fraiku: Paul Laurence Dunbar

  1. DD's avatar Deedee (DD) says:
    2024-02-16 at 19:33

    A lovely tribute.
    I look forward to exploring his work.
    Thanks

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  2. DD's avatar Deedee (DD) says:
    2024-02-16 at 19:56

    I just read We wear the mask to Zsor-zsor. Read it cold, unknowing of its theme.
    A lump-throated reading.
    Thanks Bart.
    DD

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  3. trE's avatar trE says:
    2024-02-16 at 21:11

    When I was in college, I did a research paper on him. Got an A-, but I enjoyed doing the work. This is a great homage to Paul, Bart!

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  4. johnlmalone's avatar johnlmalone says:
    2024-02-16 at 21:21

    I had never heard of this man until your post; but am reading up on him now; interesting that Harper’s promoted his writing; I subscribed to it for a while; Dunbar was certainly prolific as a writer —

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  5. JeanMarie's avatar JeanMarie says:
    2024-02-16 at 23:44

    Nice work. I just read We Wear the Mask, Masterful.

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  6. ivor20's avatar ivor20 says:
    2024-02-17 at 01:02

    Eloquently penned Bart …

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  7. berniebell1955's avatar berniebell1955 says:
    2024-02-17 at 06:33

    To me – this also relates to when a person is carrying a state of Depression around with them. You live your life, you chat with people, they think you’re doing fine – but…

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  8. yourplateormine967244485's avatar yourplateormine967244485 says:
    2024-02-17 at 09:27

    Oh, so well done 👍 I love Paul Laurence Dunbar’s work! I learned about his work and life while in college at The Norfolk State University, a HBCU, in Norfolk, Virginia! “Behold the Green and Gold!” I also met Nikki Giovanni my freshman year during a seminar. Thank you for highlighting him and his poetry!! ✨💗👏🎉

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  9. Melissa Lemay's avatar Melissa Lemay says:
    2024-02-25 at 20:27

    Love Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poetry.

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  10. Pingback: The Grave of Paul Laurence Dunbar | Bartholomew Barker, Poet

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