Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A PLANTATION PORTRAIT, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poet's Biography First Line: Hain't you see my mandy lou Last Line: Den pass on! Subject(s): Southern States; South (u.s.) | ||||||||
HAIN'T you see my Mandy Lou, Is it true? Whaih you been f'om day to day, Whaih, I say? Dat you say you nevah seen Dis hyeah queen Walkin' roun' f'om fiel' to street Smilin' sweet? Slendah ez a saplin' tree; Seems to me W'en de win' blow f'om de bay She jes' sway Lak de reg'lar saplin' do Ef hit 's grew Straight an' graceful, 'dout a limb, Sweet an' slim. Browner den de frush's wing, An' she sing Lak he mek his wa'ble ring In de spring; But she sholy beat de frush, Hyeah me, hush: W'en she sing, huh teef kin show White ez snow. Eyes ez big an' roun' an' bright Ez de light Whut de moon gives in de prime Harvest time. An' huh haih a woolly skein, Black an' plain. Hol's you wid a natchul twis' Close to bliss. Tendah han's dat mek yo' own Feel lak stone; Easy steppin', blessid feet, Small an' sweet. Hain't you seen my Mandy Lou, Is it true? Look at huh befo' she 's gone, Den pass on! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MYSTIC RIVER by GALWAY KINNELL ENTERING THE SOUTH by LUCILLE CLIFTON SNAPSHOTS OF THE COTTON SOUTH by FRANK MARSHALL DAVIS JULY IN GEORGY by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON O SOUTHLAND! by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON MY SOUTH: 1. ON THE PORCH by DONALD JUSTICE MY SOUTH: 3. ON THE FARM by DONALD JUSTICE A BANJO SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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