Question

Thou art the soul of a summer’s day,
Thou art the breath of the rose.
But the summer is fled
And the rose is dead
Where are they gone, who knows, who knows?

Thou art the blood of my heart o’ hearts,
Thou art my soul’s repose,
But my heart grows numb
And my soul is dumb
Where are thou, love, who knows, who knows?

Thou art the hope of my after years—
Sun for my winter snows
But the years go by
‘Neath a clouded sky.
Where shall we meet, who knows, who knows?



"A Song" by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Question
Use the poem to answer the question.

In 1–2 sentences, explain a conclusion that can be drawn about the poem based on its structure.

(2 points)

Answer 1

The poem’s three parallel stanzas and repeated refrain “who knows, who knows?” create a cyclical, insistent structure that emphasizes the speaker’s uncertainty and longing. The shifting images from summer/rose to heart/soul to future/winter show a progression of loss and the passage of time, underscoring the poem’s mood of unresolved sorrow.