The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/A Summer Night

A SUMMER NIGHT

Summah is de lovin' time— Do' keer what you say. Night is allus peart an' prime, Bettah dan de day. Do de day is sweet an' good, Birds a-singin' fine, Pines a-smellin' in de wood,— But de night is mine.

Rivah whisperin' "howdy do," Ez it pass you by— Moon a-lookin' down at you, Winkin' on de sly. Frogs a-croakin' f'om de pon', Singin' bass dey fill, An' you listen way beyon' Ol' man whippo'will.

Hush up, honey, tek my han' Mek yo' footsteps light; Somep'n' kin' o' hol's de lan' On a summah night. Somep'n' dat you nevah sees An' you nevah hyeahs, But you feels it in de breeze, Somep'n' nigh to teahs.

Somep'n' nigh to teahs? dat's so; But hit's nigh to smiles. An' you feels it ez you go Down de shinin' miles. Tek my han', my little dove; Hush an' come erway— Summah is de time fu' love, Night-time beats de day!