Jump Back, Paul

Book excerpt: Did you know that Paul Laurence Dunbar originated such famous lines as I know why the caged bird sings and We wear the mask that grins and lies. From his childhood in poverty and his early promise as a poet through his struggles to find acceptance as a writer and his tumultuous romance with his wife, to his immense fame and his untimely death, Dunbar's story is one of triumph and tragedy. But his legacy remains in his much-beloved poetr told in both Standard English and in dialect which continues to delight and inspire readers today. More than two dozen of Dunbar's poems are woven throughout this volume, illuminating the phases of his life and serving as examples of dialect, imagery, and tone. Narrating in a voice full of admiration and respect, Sally Derby introduces Paul Laurence Dunbar's life and poetry to readers young and old, aided by Sean Qualls's striking black-and-white illustrations. Discover the breadth and depth of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poetry and learn how it reflects his singular life as a late-nineteenth-century black man.