The poem "A Song" by Paul Laurence Dunbar features a consistent structure with three stanzas that each end with a rhetorical question, emphasizing themes of longing and uncertainty. This repetitive structure reinforces the speaker’s deep sense of loss and the elusive nature of love and hope, creating a poignant emotional impact.
A Song
by Paul Lawrence Dunbar
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.
1 answer