W'en daih's chillun in de house, <br /> Dey keep on a-gittin' tall; <br /> But de folks don' seem to see <br /> Dat dey's growin' up at all, <br /> 'Twell dey fin' out some fine day <br /> Dat de gals has 'menced to grow, <br /> W'en dey notice as dey pass <br /> Dat de front gate's saggin' low. <br /> W'en de hinges creak an' cry, <br /> An' de bahs go slantin' down, <br /> You kin reckon dat hit's time <br /> Fu' to cas' yo' eye erroun', <br /> 'Cause daih ain't no 'sputin' dis, <br /> Hit's de trues' sign to show <br /> Dat daih's cou'tin goin' on <br /> W'en de ol' front gate sags low. <br /> Oh, you grumble an' complain, <br /> An' you prop dat gate up right; <br /> But you notice right nex' day <br /> Dat hit's in de same ol' plight. <br /> So you fin' dat hit's a rule, <br /> An' daih ain' no use to blow, <br /> W'en de gals is growin' up, <br /> Dat de front gate will sag low. <br /> Den you t'ink o' yo' young days, <br /> W'en you cou'ted Sally Jane, <br /> An' you so't o' feel ashamed <br /> Fu' to grumble an' complain, <br /> 'Cause yo' ricerlection says, <br /> An' you know hits wo'ds is so, <br /> Dat huh pappy had a time <br /> Wid his front gate saggin' low. <br /> So you jes' looks on an' smiles <br /> At 'em leanin' on de gate, <br /> Tryin' to t'ink whut he kin say <br /> Fu' to keep him daih so late, <br /> But you lets dat gate erlone, <br /> Fu' yo' 'sperunce goes to show, <br /> 'Twell de gals is ma'ied off, <br /> It gwine keep on saggin' low.<br /><br />Paul Laurence Dunbar<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-old-front-gate/
