Humour and Dialect
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
This is a collection of poetry by African American author Paul Laurence Dunbar. Dunbar's work frequently features a conversational tone, innovative rhetorical structure, and a colorful use of both dialect and mainstream English. Dunbar was among the first nationally successful African American writers.
Source: Dunbar, P.L. (1913). The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company.
- Then and Now
- He loved her, and through many years,
- At Cheshire Cheese
- "When first of wise old Johnson taught,"
- My Corn-Cob Pipe
- "Men may sing of their Havanas, elevating to the stars"
- In August
- "When August days are hot an’ dry,"
- The Disturber
- "Oh, what shall I do? I am wholly upset;"
- Expectation
- "You ‘ll be wonderin’ whut ’s de reason"
- Lover's Lane
- "Summah night an’ sighin’ breeze,"
- Protest
- "Who say my hea’t ain’t true to you?"
- Hymn
- "O li’l’ lamb out in de col’,"
- Little Brown Baby
- "Little brown baby wif spa’klin’ eyes,"
- Time to Tinker' Roun'!
- "Summah ’s nice, wif sun a–shinin’,"
- The Real Question
- "Folks is talkin’ ‘bout de money, ‘bout de silvah an’ de gold;"
- Jilted
- "Lucy done gone back on me,"
- The News
- "Whut dat you whisperin’ keepin’ f’om me?"
- Chrismus on the Plantation
- "It was Chrismus Eve, I mind hit fu’ a mighty gloomy day—"
- Angelina
- "When de fiddle gits to singin’ out a ol’ Vahginny reel,"
- Foolin' Wid de Seasons
- "Seems lak folks is mighty curus"
- My Sort 'o Man
- "I don’t believe in ‘ristercrats"
- Possum
- "Ef dey ’s anyt’ing dat riles me"
- On the Road
- "I ’s boun’ to see my gal to–night—"
- A Death Song
- "Lay me down beneaf de willers in de grass,"
- A Back-Log Song
- "De axes has been ringin’ in de woods de blessid day,"
- Lullaby
- "Bedtime ’s come fu’ little boys."
- The Photograph
- "See dis pictyah in my han’?"
- Jealous
- "Hyeah come Cæsar Higgins,"
- Parted
- "De breeze is blowin’ ‘cross de bay."
- Temptation
- "I done got ‘uligion, honey, an’ I ’s happy ez a king;"
- Possum Trot
- "I ‘ve journeyed ‘roun’ consid’able, a–seein’ men an’ things,"
- Dely
- "Jes’ lak toddy wahms you thoo’"
- Breaking the Charm
- "Caught Susanner whistlin’; well,"
- Hunting Song
- "Tek a cool night, good an’ cleah,"
- A Letter
- "Dear Miss Lucy: I been t’inkin’ dat I ‘d write you long fo’ dis,"
- Chrismus is A-Comin'
- "Bones a–gittin’ achy,"
- A Cabin Tale (The Young Master Asks For a Story)
- "Whut you say, dah? huh, uh! chile,"
- At Candle-Lightin' Time
- "When I come in f’om de co’n–fiel’ aftah wo’kin’ ha’d all day,"
- Whistling Sam
- "I has hyeahd o’ people dancin’ an’ I ’s hyeahd o’ people singin’."
- How Lucy Backslid
- "De times is mighty stirrin’ ‘mong de people up ouah way,"