Paul Laurence Dunbar #1622
$ 8.00
Caption from poster__
"In the Morning"
by Paul Lawrence Dunbar.
‘Lias! ‘Lias! Bless de Lawd!
Don’ you know de day’s
erbroad? Ef you don’ git up,
you scamp, Dey ‘ll be trouble
in dis camp. T’ink I gwine
to let you sleep W’ile I
meks yo’ boa’d an’ keep?
Dat’s a putty howdy–do—
Don’ you hyeah me,
‘Lias—you? Bet ef I come
crost dis flo’ You won’ fin’
no time to sno’. Daylight
all a–shinin’ in Wile you
sleep—w’y hit’s a sin! Ain’t de
can’le–light enough To bu’n
out widout a snuff, But you
go de mo’nin’ thoo Bu’nin’
up de daylight too? ‘Lias,
don’ you hyeah me call?
No use tu’nin’ to’ds de wall;
I kin hyeah dat mattuss
squeak; Don’ you hyeah
me w’en I speak? Dis hyeah
clock done struck off six—
Ca’line, bring me dem ah
sticks! Oh, you down, suh;
huh, you down— Look hyeah,
don’ you daih to frown. Ma’ch
yo’se’f an’ wash yo’ face, Don’
you splattah all de place; I got
somep’n else to do, ‘Sides jes’
cleanin’ aftah you. Tek dat comb
ah’ fix yo’ haid— Looks jes’ lak
a feddah baid. Look hyeah, boy,
I let you see You sha’ n’t roll yo’
eyes at me. Come hyeah; bring
me dat ah strap! Boy, I’ll whup
you ‘twell you drap; You done
felt yo’se’f too strong, An’ you
sholy got me wrong. Set down
at dat table thaih; Jes’ you
whimpah ef you daih! Evah
mo’nin’ on dis place, Seem
lak I mus’ lose my grace. Fol’ yo’
han’s an’ bow yo’ haid— Wait
ontwell de blessin’ ’s said; “Lawd,
have mussy on ouah souls—”
(Don’ you daih to tech dem
rolls—) “Bless de food we
gwine to eat—” (You set
still–I see yo’ feet; You jes’
try dat trick agin!) “Gin us
peace an’ joy. Amen!”
Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in Dayton Ohio on June 27, 1872. His
father, Joseph and Mother Mitilda Murphy Dunbar were emancipated
slaves. He graduated from Central High school with honors. He also
served as editor of the school newspaper and was the class poet.
Unable to attend college, he obtained a job as an elevator operator
and wrote poetry in his free time. He published his first book of poetry,
Oak and Ivy, at his own expense in 1893. His second book, Majors
and Minors, was published two years later. Due to the success of
Majors and Minors he was able to publish a third volume of Poetry
in 1896, Lyrics of Lowly Life, which was printed by a major publishing
company. This was his most popular volume. This book contained
poems written in the dialect of Southern Blacks. The success of this
volume enabled Mr. Dunbar the opportunity to travel to England. Upon
his return to the United States he was hired as an assistant in the
Library of Congress. In 1898, he married Alice Moore, but they
separated in 1901. Dunbar contracted tuberculosis when he was almost
thirty. He tried various cures, alcohol being one of them, and he became
addicted. Sick and discouraged over the lack of success of Heart of
Happy Hollow (1904), he returned to Dayton where he died on February
9, 1906.
