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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


DAT GAL O' MINE by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: SKIN AS BLACK AN' JES AS SOF' AS A VELVET DRESS
Last Line: O' MINE.
Subject(s): AFRICAN AMERICANS - WOMEN; LOVE; RELIGION; SABBATH; THEOLOGY; SUNDAY;

Skin as black an' jes as sof' as a velvet dress,
Teeth as white as ivory — well dey is I guess.

Eyes dat's jes as big an' bright as de evenin'
star;
An' dat hol' some sort o' light lublier by far.

Hair don't hang 'way down her back; plaited
up in rows;
Wid de two en's dat's behin' tied wid ribben
bows.

Han's dat raly wuz'n made fu' hard work, I'm
sho';
Got a little bit o' foot; weahs a numbah fo'.

You jes oughtah see dat gal Sunday's w'en she
goes
To de Baptis' meetin' house, dressed in her
bes' clo'es.

W'en she puts her w'ite dress on an' othah
things so fine;
Now, Su', don't you know I'm proud o' dat gal
o' mine.



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