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The Visitor

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

Topics: classic

Little lady at de do',     W'y you stan' dey knockin'?     Nevah seen you ac' befo'     In er way so shockin'.     Don' you know de sin it is     Fu' to git my temper riz     Wen I 's got de rheumatiz     An' my jints is lockin'?     No, ol' Miss ain't sont you down,     Don' you tell no story;     I been seed you hangin' 'roun'     Dis hyeah te'itory.     You des come fu' me to tell     You a tale, an' I ain'--well--     Look hyeah, what is dat I smell?     Steamin' victuals? Glory!     Come in, Missy, how you do?     Come up by de fiah,     I was jokin', chile, wid you;     Bring dat basket nighah.     Huh uh, ain't dat lak ol' Miss,     Sen'in' me a feas' lak dis?     Rheumatiz cain't stop my bliss,     Case I's feelin' spryah.     Chicken meat an' gravy, too,     Hot an' still a-heatin';     Good ol' sweet pertater stew;     Missy b'lieves in treatin'.     Des set down, you blessed chile,     Daddy got to t'ink a while,     Den a story mek you smile     Wen he git thoo eatin'.

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"Little lady at de do',..."

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Author:Paul Laurence Dunbar

"Little lady at de do',..." 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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