Little brown baby wif spa'klin' eyes, <br /> Come to yo' pappy an' set on his knee. <br /> What you been doin', suh -- makin' san' pies? <br /> Look at dat bib -- you's es du'ty ez me. <br /> Look at dat mouf -- dat's merlasses, I bet; <br /> Come hyeah, Maria, an' wipe off his han's. <br /> Bees gwine to ketch you an' eat you up yit, <br /> Bein' so sticky an sweet -- goodness lan's! <br /> Little brown baby wif spa'klin' eyes, <br /> Who's pappy's darlin' an' who's pappy's chile? <br /> Who is it all de day nevah once tries <br /> Fu' to be cross, er once loses dat smile? <br /> Whah did you git dem teef? My, you's a scamp! <br /> Whah did dat dimple come f'om in yo' chin? <br /> Pappy do' know you -- I b'lieves you's a tramp; <br /> Mammy, dis hyeah's some ol' straggler got in! <br /> <br /> Let's th'ow him outen de do' in de san', <br /> We do' want stragglers a-layin' 'roun' hyeah; <br /> Let's gin him 'way to de big buggah-man; <br /> I know he's hidin' erroun' hyeah right neah. <br /> Buggah-man, buggah-man, come in de do', <br /> Hyeah's a bad boy you kin have fu' to eat. <br /> Mammy an' pappy do' want him no mo', <br /> Swaller him down f'om his haid to his feet! <br /> <br /> Dah, now, I t'ought dat you'd hug me up close. <br /> Go back, ol' buggah, you sha'n't have dis boy. <br /> He ain't no tramp, ner no straggler, of co'se; <br /> He's pappy's pa'dner an' play-mate an' joy. <br /> Come to you' pallet now -- go to yo' res'; <br /> Wisht you could allus know ease an' cleah skies; <br /> Wisht you could stay jes' a chile on my breas'-- <br /> Little brown baby wif spa'klin' eyes!<br /><br />Paul Laurence Dunbar<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/little-brown-baby/
