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Scamp

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Topics: classic

Ain't it nice to have a mammy     W'en you kin' o' tiahed out     Wid a-playin' in de meddah,     An' a-runnin' roun' about     Till hit's made you mighty hongry,     An' yo' nose hit gits to know     What de smell means dat 's a-comin'     F'om de open cabin do'?     She wash yo' face,     An' mek yo' place,     You's hongry as a tramp;     Den hit's eat you suppah right away,     You sta'vin' little scamp.     W'en you's full o' braid an' bacon,     An' dey ain't no mo' to eat,     An' de lasses dat's a-stickin'     On yo' face ta'se kin' o' sweet,     Don' you t'ink hit's kin' o' pleasin'     Fu' to have som'body neah     Dat'll wipe yo' han's an' kiss you     Fo' dey lif' you f'om you' cheah?     To smile so sweet,     An' wash yo' feet,     An' leave 'em co'l an' damp;     Den hit's come let me undress you, now     You lazy little scamp.     Don' yo' eyes git awful heavy,     An' yo' lip git awful slack,     Ain't dey som'p'n' kin' o' weaknin'     In de backbone of yo' back?     Don' yo' knees feel kin' o' trimbly,     An' yo' head go bobbin' roun',     W'en you says yo' "Now I lay me,"     An' is sno'in on de "down"?     She kiss yo' nose,     She kiss yo' toes,     An' den tu'n out de lamp,     Den hit's creep into yo' trunnel baid,     You sleepy little scamp.

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"Ain't it nice to have a mammy..."

Exploring the themes of classic, Paul Laurence Dunbar delivers a powerful performance in "Scamp"... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

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Author:Paul Laurence Dunbar

"Ain't it nice to have a mammy..." 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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