Poem: “Possession” by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Download PDF

American Literature – Children Books – American Poetry – Paul Laurence Dunbar – Poems by Paul Laurence Dunbar
< < < The Pool
The Old Front Gate > > >

Possession

Whose little lady is you, chile,
Whose little gal is you?
What’s de use o’ kiver’n up yo’ face?
Chile, dat ain’t de way to do.
Lemme see yo’ little eyes,
Tek yo’ little han’s down nice,
Lawd, you wuff a million bills,
Huh uh, chile, dat ain’t yo’ price.

Honey, de money ain’t been made
Dat dey could pay fu’ you;
‘T ain’t no use a-biddin’; you too high
Fu’ de riches’ Jap er Jew.
Lemme see you smilin’ now,
How dem teef o’ yo’n do shine,
An’ de t’ing dat meks me laff
Is dat all o’ you is mine.

How ‘s I gwine to tell you how I feel,
How’s I gwine to weigh yo’ wuff?
Oh, you sholy is de sweetes’ t’ing
Walkin’ on dis blessed earf.
Possum is de sweetes’ meat,
Cidah is the nices’ drink,
But my little lady-bird
Is de bes’ of all, I t’ink.

Talk erbout ‘uligion he’pin’ folks
All thoo de way o’ life,
Gin de res’ ‘uligion, des’ gin me
You, my little lady-wife.
Den de days kin come all ha’d,
Den de nights kin come all black,
Des’ you tek me by de han’,
An’ I’ll stumble on de track.

Stumble on de way to Gawd, my chile,
Stumble on, an’ mebbe fall;
But I’ll keep a-trottin’, while you lead on,
Pickin’ an’ a-trottin’, dat’s all.
Hol’ me mighty tight, dough, chile,
Fu’ hit’s rough an’ rocky lan’,
Heaben ‘s at de en’, I know,
So I’s leanin’ on yo’ han’.

< < < The Pool
The Old Front Gate > > >

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

If you liked this article, subscribe , put likes, write comments!

Share on social networks

Visit us on Facebook or Twitter

Check out Our Latest Posts

Possession

Leave a comment Cancel reply