Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A DEATH SONG, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A DEATH SONG, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: Lay me down beneaf de willers in de grass
Last Line: Ef I 's layin' 'mong de t'ings I 's allus knowed.
Subject(s): African Americans; Death; Negroes; American Blacks; Dead, The


LAY me down beneaf de willers in de grass,
Whah de branch'll go a-singin' as it pass.
An' w'en I's a-layin' low,
I kin hyeah it as it go
Singin', "Sleep, my honey, tek yo' res' at las'."

Lay me nigh to whah hit meks a little pool,
An' de watah stan's so quiet lak an' cool,
Whah de little birds in spring
Ust to come an' drink an' sing,
An' de chillen waded on dey way to school.

Let me settle w'en my shouldahs draps dey load
Nigh enough to hyeah de noises in de road;
Fu' I t'ink de las' long res'
Gwine to soothe my sperrit bes'
Ef I 's layin' 'mong de t'ings I 's allus knowed.





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