Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow
To Dan
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
"Step me now a bridal measure,"
"Step me now a bridal measure,"
"Dis is gospel weathah sho’—"
"Dey was oncet a awful quoil ‘twixt de skillet an’ de pot;"
"Summah is de lovin’ time—"
"Ain’t it nice to have a mammy"
"Granny’s gone a–visitin’,"
The speaker talks of her grief.
"Wintah time hit comin’ Stealin’ thoo de night;"
"Tim Murphy’s gon’ walkin’ wid Maggie O’Neill,"
"Days git wa’m an’ wa’mah,"
A poem of thanks.
"De win’ is blowin’ wahmah,"
"Eight of ‘em hyeah all tol’ an’ yet"
"Underneath the autumn sky,"
On his way home, Little Bear saw two hunters with guns and was frightened. Mother Skunk saw him and walked him along the path near the two hunters causing the two men to stay motionless. Little Bear was able to run home safely.
"A bee that was searching for sweets one day"
"I done got ‘uligion, honey, an’ I ’s happy ez a king;"
"Since I left the city’s heat"
While traveling with Mr. Haley, Uncle Tom encounters Evangeline St. Clare. An act of kindness by Tom does not go unnoticed.
Why the kangaroo is very fast on land.
"Little brown face full of smiles,"
"Blessing on thee, little man, Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan!"
"I’s a–gittin’ weary of de way dat people do,"
A fairy tale about a cat that eats all who disagree with him.
The speaker describes the effects of death.