Paul Laurence Dunbar Website Releases New Web Page For Poem

(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 26, 2007 ) Alexandria, VA - The website PaulLaurenceDunbar.net has released a new web page for the Paul Laurence Dunbar poem,"Lead Gently, Lord, And Slow," with an original new melody for performance, and MP3 readings."The poem itself, the readings, and the melody are all in the Public Domain, free for everyone to use without restriction," said Rev. Bill McGinnis, a student and admirer of Dunbar and owner of the website."This beautiful poem of Dunbar's was inspired by the hymn poem "Lead Kindly Light," said McGinnis. It is written in Standard English and is perfectly suitable for use in Christian worship services and many other settings. I have also written a melody for this poem, so it can now be sung, as well as being read and recited."You can read, hear, and download "Lead Gently, Lord, And Slow," from its new web page located at http://www.paullaurencedunbar.net/leadgentlylordandslow.html. The entire website is located at http://www.paullaurencedunbar.net.Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in 1872 in Dayton, Ohio, and he died there in 1906, of tuberculosis. During his brief life, he received both national and international acclaim for his poetry, written both in Standard English and in Dialect. He also wrote stories, novels and political commentary, but he is best remembered for his poetry. He gave readings of his poems in many different cities, and his work was widely published and distributed in the mainstream media of the time. For several years, he was one of the most famous and best loved African Americans in the world."Many of Dunbar's frustrated dreams for mankind are now coming true, a hundred years after his death," said McGinnis. "And now that we have the Internet for instantaneous, free, world-wide communication, I expect to see a broad rebirth of interest in the life and work of Paul Laurence Dunbar." # # #Contact:William McGinnisbmcgin@patriot.netTel: 703-768-6710

William McGinnis

bmcgin@patriot.net