The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/Foolin' Wid De Seasons

FOOLIN' WID DE SEASONS

Seems lak folks is mighty curus In de way dey t'inks an' ac's. Dey jes' spen's dey days a-mixin' Up de t'ings in almanacs. Now, I min' my nex' do' neighbour,— He's a mighty likely man, But he nevah t'inks o' nuffin 'Ceptin' jes' to plot an' plan.

All de wintah he was plannin' How he 'd gethah sassafras Jes' ez soon ez evah Springtime Put some greenness in de grass. An' he 'lowed a little soonah He could stan' a coolah breeze So 's to mek a little money F'om de sugah-watah trees.

In de summah, he 'd be waihin' Out de linin' of his soul, Try 'n' ca'ci'late an' fashion How he 'd git his wintah coal; An' I b'lieve he got his jedgement Jes' so tuckahed out an' thinned Dat he t'ought a robin's whistle Was de whistle of de wind.

Why won't folks gin up dey plannin', An' jes' be content to know Dat dey 's gittin' all dat's fu' dem In de days dat come an' go? Why won't folks quit movin' forrard? Ain't hit bettah jes' to stan' An' be satisfied wid livin' In de season dat 's at han'?

Hit 's enough fu' me to listen W'en de birds is singin' 'roun', 'Dout a-guessin' whut 'll happen W'en de snow is on de groun'. In de Springtime an' de summah, I lays sorrer on de she'f; An' I knows ol' Mistah Wintah Gwine to hustle fu' hisse'f.

We been put hyeah fu' a pu'pose, But de questun dat has riz An' made lots o' people diffah Is jes' whut dat pu'pose is. Now, accordin' to my reas'nin', Hyeah's de p'int whaih I 's arriv, Sence de Lawd put life into us, We was put hyeah fu' to live!