Experience 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. Did you kw that Paul Laurence Dunbar originated such famous lines as I kw 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 poetry 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 listeners young and old.