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The Tryst

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Topics: classic

De night creep down erlong de lan',     De shadders rise an' shake,     De frog is sta'tin' up his ban',     De cricket is awake;     My wo'k is mos' nigh done, Celes',     To-night I won't be late,     I 's hu'yin' thoo my level bes',     Wait fu' me by de gate.     De mockin'-bird 'll sen' his glee     A-thrillin' thoo and thoo,     I know dat ol' magnolia-tree     Is smellin' des' fu' you;     De jessamine erside de road     Is bloomin' rich an' white,     My hea't 's a-th'obbin' 'cause it knowed     You 'd wait fu' me to-night.     Hit 's lonesome, ain't it, stan'in' thaih     Wid no one nigh to talk?     But ain't dey whispahs in de aih     Erlong de gyahden walk?     Don't somep'n kin' o' call my name,     An' say "he love you bes'"?     Hit 's true, I wants to say de same,     So wait fu' me, Celes'.     Sing somep'n fu' to pass de time,     Outsing de mockin'-bird,     You got de music an' de rhyme,     You beat him wid de word.     I 's comin' now, my wo'k is done,     De hour has come fu' res',     I wants to fly, but only run--     Wait fu' me, deah Celes'.

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"De night creep down erlong de lan',..."

Exploring the themes of classic, Paul Laurence Dunbar delivers a powerful performance in "The Tryst"... ### 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

"De night creep down erlong de lan',..." 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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