Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AT NIGHT, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poet's Biography First Line: Whut time 'd dat clock strike? Nine? No - eight Last Line: I reckon he'll sleep daih twell day! Subject(s): Night; Bedtime | ||||||||
WHUT time 'd dat clock strike? Nine? No -- eight; I didn't think hit was so late. Aer chew! I must 'a' got a cough, I raally b'lieve I did doze off -- Hit's mighty soothin' to de tiah, A-dozin' dis way by de fiah; Oo oom -- hit feels so good to stretch I sutny is one weary wretch! Look hyeah, dat boy done gone to sleep! He des ain't wo'th his boa'd an' keep; I des don't b'lieve he'd bat his eyes If Gab'el called him fo'm de skies! But sleepin's good dey ain't no doubt -- Dis pipe o' mine is done gone out. Don't bu'n a minute, bless my soul, Des please to han' me dat ah coal. You 'Lias git up now, my son, Seems lak my nap is des begun; You sutny mus' ma'k down de day W'en I treats comp'ny dis away! W'y, Brother Jones, dat drowse come on, An' laws! I dremp dat you was gone! You 'Lias, whaih yo' mannahs, suh, To hyeah me call an' nevah stuh! To-morrer mo'nin' w'en I call Dat boy'll be sleepin' to beat all, Don't mek no diffunce how I roah, He'll des lay up an' sno' and sno'. Now boy, you done hyeahed whut I said, You bettah tek yo'se'f yo baid, Case ef you gits me good an' wrong I'll mek dat sno' a diffunt song. Dis wood fiah is invitin' dho', Hit seems to wa'm de ve'y flo' -- An' nuffin' ain't a whit ez sweet, Ez settin' toastin' of yo' feet. Hit mek you drowsy, too, but La! Hyeah, 'Lias, don't you hyeah yo' ma? Ef I gits sta'ted f'om dis cheah I' lay, you scamp, I'll mek you heah! To-morrer mo'nin' I kin bawl Twell all de neighbohs hyeah me call; An' you'll be snoozin' des ez deep Ez if de day was made fu' sleep; Hit's funny when you got a cough Somehow yo' voice seems too fu' off -- Can't wake dat boy fu' all I say, I reckon he'll sleep daih twell day! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BREATH OF NIGHT by RANDALL JARRELL HOODED NIGHT by ROBINSON JEFFERS NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP by ROBINSON JEFFERS WORKING OUTSIDE AT NIGHT by DENIS JOHNSON POEM TO TAKE BACK THE NIGHT by JUNE JORDAN COOL DARK ODE by DONALD JUSTICE POEM TO BE READ AT 3 A.M by DONALD JUSTICE ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT by BOB KAUFMAN A BANJO SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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