A Death Song

Lay me down beneaf de willers in de grass, Whah de branch ’ll go a-singin’ as it pass. An’ w’en I ’s a-layin’ low, I kin hyeah it as it go Singin’, “Sleep, my honey, tek yo’ res’ at las’.” Lay me nigh to whah hit meks a little pool, An’ de watah stan’s so quiet lak an’ cool, Whah de little birds in spring Ust to come an’ drink an’ sing, An’ de chillen waded on dey way to school. Let me settle w’en my shouldahs draps dey load Nigh enough to hyeah de noises in de road; Fu’ I t’ink de las’ long res’ Gwine to soothe my sperrit bes’ Ef I ’s layin’ ’mong de t’ings I ’s allus knowed.

Collection: 
English
1892
Paul Laurence Dunbar

More from Poet

  • Harriet Beecher Stowe

    She told the story, and the whole world wept At wrongs and cruelties it had not known But for this fearless woman’s voice alone. She spoke to consciences that long had slept: Her message. Freedom’s clear reveille, swept From heedless hovel to complacent throne. Command and prophecy were in the...

  • Conscience and Remorse

    “good-bye,” I said to my Conscience— “Good-bye for aye and aye;” And I put her hands off harshly, And turned my face away: And Conscience, smitten sorely, Returned not from that day. But a time came when my spirit Grew weary of its pace: And I cried, “Come back, my Conscience, I long...

  • On the Road

    I ’s boun’ to see my gal to-night— Oh, lone de way, my dearie! De moon ain’t out, de stars ain’t bright— Oh, lone de way, my dearie! Dis hoss o’ mine is pow’ful slow, But when I does git to yo’ do’ Yo’ kiss ’ll pay me back, an’ mo’, Dough lone de way, my dearie. De night is skeery-lak an’...

  • A Death Song

    Lay me down beneaf de willers in de grass, Whah de branch ’ll go a-singin’ as it pass. An’ w’en I ’s a-layin’ low, I kin hyeah it as it go Singin’, “Sleep, my honey, tek yo’ res’ at las’.” Lay me nigh to whah hit meks a little pool, An’ de watah stan’s so quiet lak an’ cool, Whah de little...

  • Hymn

    O Li’l’ lamb out in de col’, De Mastah call you to de fol’, O li’l’ lamb! He hyeah you bleatin’ on de hill; Come hyeah an’ keep yo’ mou’nin’ still, O li’l’ lamb! De Mastah sen’ de Shepud fo’f; He wandah souf, he wandah no’f, O li’l’ lamb! He wandah eas’, he wandah wes’; De...