Song of Summer (by Paul Laurence Dunbar)

Paul Laurence Dunbar
Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1872-1906

Song of Summer
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
[from Lyrics of Lowly Life, 1896]

Dis is gospel weathah sho'—
Hills is sawt o' hazy.
Meddahs level ez a flo'
Callin' to de lazy.
Sky all white wif streaks o' blue,
Sunshine softly gleamin',
D'ain't no wuk hit 's right to do,
Nothin' 's right but dreamin'.

Dreamin' by de rivah side
Wif de watahs glist'nin',
Feelin' good an' satisfied
Ez you lay a-list'nin'
To the little nakid boys
Splashin' in de watah,
Hollerin' fu' to spress deir joys
Jes' lak youngsters ought to.

Squir'l a-tippin' on his toes,
So 's to hide an' view you;
Whole flocks o' camp-meetin' crows
Shoutin' hallelujah.
Peckahwood erpon de tree
Tappin' lak a hammah;
Jaybird chattin' wif a bee,
Tryin' to teach him grammah.

Breeze is blowin' wif perfume,
Jes' enough to tease you;
Hollyhocks is all in bloom,
Smellin' fu' to please you.
Go 'way, folks, an' let me 'lone,
Times is gettin' dearah—
Summah 's settin' on de th'one,
An I 'm a-layin' neah huh!



* * *

   

 
Trackbacks
  • Trackbacks are closed for this post.
Comments

  • 5/24/2010 4:26 PM Elena wrote:
    Yas jes hafta read dis one aloud.
    It captures the lovely day I have spent outside planting and installing new lights in my garden to the sound of my waterfall and the birds a chirpin in the trees. Love it.
    Reply to this
Leave a comment

 Name

 Email (will not be published)

 Website

Your comment is 0 characters limited to 3000 characters.