Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TEMPTATION, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poet's Biography First Line: Done got 'uligion, honey, an' I's happy ez a king Last Line: Did n't think I could be tempted, but you lak to made me sin! Subject(s): Temptation | ||||||||
I DONE got 'uligion, honey, an' I 's happy ez a king; Evahthing I see erbout me 's jes' lak sunshine in de spring; An' it seems lak I do' want to do anothah blessid thing But jes' run an' tell de neighbours, an' to shout an' pray an' sing. I done shuk my fis' at Satan, an' I 's gin de worl' my back; I do' want no hendrin' causes now a-both'rin' in my track; Fu' I 's on my way to glory, an' I feels too sho' to miss. W'y, dey ain't no use in sinnin' when 'uligion 's sweet ez dis. Talk erbout a man backslidin' w'en he 's on de gospel way; No, suh, I done beat de debbil, an' Temptation 's los' de day. Gwine to keep my eyes right straight up, gwine to shet my eahs, an' see Whut ole projick Mistah Satan 's gwine to try to wuk on me. Listen, whut dat soun' I hyeah dah? 'tain't no one commence to sing; It 's a fiddle; git erway dah! don' you hyeah dat blessid thing? W'y, dat 's sweet ez drippin' honey, 'cause, you knows, I draws de bow, An' when music 's sho' 'nough music, I 's de one dat's sho' to know. W'y, I 's done de double shuffle, twell a body could n't res', Jes' a-hyeahin' Sam de fiddlah play dat chune his level bes'; I could cut a mighty caper, I could gin a mighty fling Jes' right now, I 's mo' dan suttain I could cut de pigeon wing. Look hyeah, whut's dis I 's been sayin'? whut on urf 's tuk holt o' me? Dat ole music come nigh runnin' my 'uligion up a tree! Cleah out wif dat dah ole fiddle, don' you try dat trick agin; Did n't think I could be tempted, but you lak to made me sin! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...I HAVE BEEN A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND' by RITA DOVE ON 'EVE TEMPTED BY THE SERPENT' BY DEFENDENTE FERRARI by ROBERT PINSKY ALL THINGS CAN TEMPT ME by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS SOUL AND BODY by LASCELLES ABERCROMBIE THE NEW SIRENS: A PALINODE by MATTHEW ARNOLD THE LAY OF ST. NICHOLAS by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM A BANJO SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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