A Summer Night

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Summah is de lovin' time--
  Don' 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!

Index + Blog :

Poetry Archive Index | Blog : Poem of the Day