Poem: “Opportunity” by Paul Laurence Dunbar

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American Literature – Children Books – American Poetry – Paul Laurence Dunbar – Poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar
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Puttin’ The Baby Away > > >

Opportunity

Granny’s gone a-visitin’,
Seen huh git huh shawl
W’en I was a-hidin’ down
Hime de gyahden wall.
Seen huh put her bonnet on,
Seen huh tie de strings,
An’ I’se gone to dreamin’ now
‘Bout dem cakes an’ t’ings.

On de she’f behime de do’—
Mussy, what a feas’!
Soon ez she gits out o’ sight,
I kin eat in peace.
I bin watchin’ fu’ a week
Des fu’ dis hyeah chance.
Mussy, w’en I gits in daih,
I’ll des sholy dance.

Lemon pie an’ gingah-cake,
Let me set an’ t’ink—
Vinegah an’ sugah, too,
Dat’ll mek a drink;
Ef dey’s one t’ing dat I loves
Mos’ pu’ticlahly,
It is eatin’ sweet t’ings an’
A-drinkin’ Sangaree.

Lawdy, won’ po’ granny raih
W’en she see de she’f;
W’en I t’ink erbout huh face,
I’s mos’ ‘shamed myse’f.
Well, she gone, an ‘hyeah I is,
Back behime de do’—
Look hyeah! gran’ ‘s done ‘spected me,
Dain’t no sweets no mo’.

Evah sweet is hid erway,
Job des done up brown;
Pusson t’ink dat someun t’ought
Dey was t’eves erroun’;
Dat des breaks my heart in two,
Oh how bad I feel!
Des to t’ink my own gramma
B’lieved dat I ‘u’d steal!

< < < Curiosity
Puttin’ The Baby Away > > >

American Literature – Children Books – American Poetry – Paul Laurence Dunbar – Poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar

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