The structure of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem "Longing" enhances the sense of yearning and desire for escape. The repetitive use of "Away" at the beginning of each stanza creates a rhythmic urgency, emphasizing the speaker's deep desire to leave their current situation. This refrain suggests a compelling need for freedom and peace, which is reinforced by vivid imagery of nature, such as "overgrown sun-dapple wood" and "towering ash." Additionally, the alternating perspective in the second stanza conveys the awareness of the impact of the speaker's absence on the other person, suggesting that while the speaker longs for escape, there is also an underlying acknowledgment of relational bonds. Overall, the poem's structure reflects a conflict between the desire for solitude and the emotional ties that hold the speaker back.
Longing
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Away
Away, away I would go if I could,
Perhaps to an overgrown sun-dapple wood;
Away, away I would fly in a flash,
If I thought peace awaited under a towering ash.
Away, away you would wish me go too,
If only the pain of my staying still was known to you;
Away, away you would bid me farewell,
And on my wellbeing, you’d never again dwell.
"Longing" by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Question
Use the poem to answer the question.
In 3–5 sentences, use effective reasoning to explain a conclusion you can draw from the structure of “Away.” Base your conclusion in part on the structure of the poem.
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