Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TOO BUSY, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TOO BUSY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The lord has a job for me, but I had so much to do
Last Line: Nobody else can do the work that god's marked out for you.
Variant Title(s): Get Somebody Else
Subject(s): Christianity; Religion; Theology


The Lord had a job for me, but I had so much to do,
I said, "You get somebody else -- or wait 'till I get through."
I don't know how the Lord came out, but he seemed to get along;
But I felt kind o' sneakin' like; 'cause I knowed I done Him wrong.

One day I needed the Lord, needed Him right away --
And He never answered me at all, but I could hear Him say
Down in my accusin' heart, "Nigger, I's got too much to do.
You get somebody else -- or wait 'till I get through."

Now, when the Lord has a job for me, I never tries to shirk;
I drops what I have on hand and does the good Lord's work;
And my affairs can run along, or wait 'till I get through.
Nobody else can do the work that God's marked out for you.





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