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A Plantation Melody

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Topics: classic

De trees is bendin' in de sto'm,     De rain done hid de mountain's fo'm,     I 's 'lone an' in distress.     But listen, dah 's a voice I hyeah,     A-sayin' to me, loud an' cleah,     "Lay low in de wildaness."     De lightnin' flash, de bough sway low,     My po' sick hea't is trimblin' so,     It hu'ts my very breas'.     But him dat give de lightnin' powah     Jes' bids me in de tryin' howah     "Lay low in de wildaness."     O brothah, w'en de tempes' beat,     An' w'en yo' weary head an' feet     Can't fin' no place to res',     Jes' 'membah dat de Mastah 's nigh,     An' putty soon you 'll hyeah de cry,     "Lay low in de wildaness."     O sistah, w'en de rain come down,     An' all yo' hopes is 'bout to drown,     Don't trus' de Mastah less.     He smilin' w'en you t'ink he frown,     He ain' gwine let yo' soul sink down--     Lay low in de wildaness.

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"De trees is bendin' in de sto'm,..."

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Author:Paul Laurence Dunbar

"De trees is bendin' in de sto'm,..." by Paul Laurence Dunbar

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"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

Paul Laurence Dunbar

About Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906) was an American poet and novelist who was one of the first African-American writers to gain national prominence. His poems in dialect—including "When Malindy Sings"—and standard English explore Black life with humor, pathos, and dignity.

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