Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SLOW THROUGH THE DARK by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

First Line: SLOW MOVES THE PAGEANT OF A CLIMBING RACE
Last Line: THE CLOUDS GROW THICKEST WHEN THE SUMMIT 'S NIGH.

SLOW moves the pageant of a climbing race;
Their footsteps drag far, far below the height,
And, unprevailing by their utmost might,
Seem faltering downward from each hard won place.
No strange, swift-sprung exception we; we trace
A devious way thro' dim, uncertain light, --
Our hope, through the long vistaed years, a sight
Of that our Captain's soul sees face to face.
Who, faithless, faltering that the road is steep,
Now raiseth up his drear insistent cry?
Who stoppeth here to spend a while in sleep
Or curseth that the storm obscures the sky?
Heed not the darkness round you, dull and deep;
The clouds grow thickest when the summit 's nigh.



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