Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE MASTER-PLAYER by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

First Line: AN OLD, WORN HARP THAT HAD BEEN PLAYED
Last Line: AND BROUGHT FORTH MUSIC SWEET AND STRONG.
Subject(s): HARPS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; RELIGION; LYRES; THEOLOGY;

AN old, worn harp that had been played
Till all its strings were loose and frayed,
Joy, Hate, and Fear, each one essayed,
To play. But each in turn had found
No sweet responsiveness of sound.

Then Love the Master-Player came
With heaving breast and eyes aflame;
The Harp he took all undismayed,
Smote on its strings, still strange to song,
And brought forth music sweet and strong.



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