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1872–1906

A GRIEVANCE

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Wen de snow‘ s a-fallin’ An’ de win’ is col’. Mammy‘ mence a-callin’, Den she‘ mence to scol’,

“Lucius Lishy Brackett, Do n't you go out do's, Button up yo’ jacket, Les'n you‘ ll git froze.”

I sit at de windah Lookin’ at de groun’, Nuffin nigh to hindah, Mammy ain’ erroun’;

Wish‘ t she would n’ mek me Set down in dis chaih; Pshaw, it would n't tek me Long to git some aih.

So I jump down nimble Ez a boy kin be, Dough I‘ s all a-trimble Feahed some one‘ ll see;

Bet in a half a minute I fly out de do’ An’ I‘ s knee-deep in it, Dat dah blessed snow.

Den I hyeah a pattah Come acrost de flo’. Den dey comes a clattah At de cabin do’;

An’ my mammy holler Spoilin’ all my joy, “Come in f'om dat waller, Do n't I see you, boy?”

Wen de snow‘ s a-sievin’ Down ez sof ez meal, Whut‘ s de use o’ livin’ ‘ Cept you got de feel

Of de stuff dat's fallin’ ‘ Roun’ an’ white an’ damp, ‘ Dout some one a-callin’, “Come in hyeah, you scamp!”

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A GRIEVANCE · Paul Laurence Dunbar · Poetry Cove