Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

EPITAPH: FOR PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR, by COUNTEE CULLEN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"Epitaph: For Paul Laurence Dunbar" by Countee Cullen is a poignant tribute to the African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the first to gain national and international acclaim. Cullen's epitaph distills the essence of Dunbar's life and work, portraying him as a figure who navigated the complexities of joy and sorrow, pride and pain.

The opening line, "Born of the sorrowful of heart," immediately sets a tone of inherited sadness, reflecting the struggles Dunbar faced as an African American in a racially segregated society. This line acknowledges the deep-rooted sorrows born from the collective experiences of African Americans, suggesting that Dunbar's work emanated from this profound emotional landscape.

"Mirth was a crown upon his head;" this juxtaposition of sorrow with mirth highlights Dunbar's ability to find and express joy, laughter, and vivacity in his poetry, despite the underlying sadness. The imagery of mirth as a "crown" suggests that Dunbar's capacity for joy was not only a personal triumph but also a defining characteristic of his creative genius, elevating him above the circumstances of his birth and life.

"Pride kept his twisted lips apart / In jest, to hide a heart that bled." These lines delve into the complexities of Dunbar's public persona. His pride, a refusal to be defined or diminished by racial prejudice, compelled him to maintain a façade of humor and light-heartedness. The "twisted lips" and the act of jesting serve as a metaphor for the masks that Dunbar, and perhaps many African Americans of his time, wore to navigate a hostile world. This humor and jest were not merely for entertainment but served as a shield to conceal the deep wounds of racism and personal anguish.

Cullen's epitaph for Dunbar is a powerful and compact exploration of the tension between the exterior and interior lives of an African American artist at the turn of the 20th century. By highlighting Dunbar's ability to transmute personal and collective sorrow into art that resonates with both mirth and beauty, Cullen honors Dunbar's legacy as a poet who skillfully balanced the weight of his sorrows with the lightness of his humor. The epitaph not only pays homage to Dunbar's resilience and creative spirit but also underscores the enduring relevance of his work as a reflection of the African American experience.

POEM TEXT:

Born of the sorrowful of heart,

Mirth was a crown upon his head;

Pride kept his twisted lips apart

In jest, to hide a heart that bled.