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1872–1906

WHEN SAM'L SINGS

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Hyeah dat singin’ in de medders Whaih de folks is mekin’ hay? Wo'k is pretty middlin’ heavy Fu’ a man to be so gay.

You kin tell dey‘ s somep'n special F'om de canter o’ de song; Somep'n sholy pleasin’ Sam'l, W'en he singin’ all day long.

Hyeahd him wa'blin’‘ way dis mo'nin’ ‘ Fo’‘ t was light enough to see. Seem lak music in de evenin’ Allus good enough fu’ me.

But dat man commenced to hollah ‘ Fo’ he‘ d even washed his face; Would you b'lieve, de scan'lous rascal Woke de birds erroun’ de place?

Sam'l took a trip a-Sad'day; Dressed hisse'f in all he had, Tuk a cane an’ went a-strollin’, Lookin’ mighty pleased an’ glad.

Some folks don’ know whut de mattah, But I do, you bet yo’ life; Sam'l smilin’ an’ a-singin’ ‘ Case he been to see his wife.

She live on de fu’ plantation, Twenty miles erway er so; But huh man is mighty happy Wen he git de chanst to go.

Walkin’ allus ain’ de nices’ — Mo'nin’ fin's him on de way — But he allus comes back smilin’, Lak his pleasure was his pay.

Den he do a heap o’ talkin’, Do’ he mos'ly kin’ o’ still, But de wo'ds, dey gits to runnin’ Lak de watah fu’ a mill.

“Whut‘ s de use o’ havin’ trouble, Whut‘ s de use o’ havin’ strife?” Dat‘ s de way dis Sam'l preaches W'en he been to see his wife.

An’ I reckon I git jealous, Fu’ I laff an’ joke an’ sco'n, An’ I say, “Oh, go on, Sam'l, Des go on, an’ blow yo’ ho'n.”

But I know dis comin’ Sad'day, Dey‘ ll be brighter days in life; An’ I‘ ll be ez glad ez Sam'l W'en I go to see my wife.

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WHEN SAM'L SINGS · Paul Laurence Dunbar · Poetry Cove