Win' a-blowin' gentle so de san' lay low, <br />San' a little heavy f'om de rain, <br />All de pa'ms a-wavin' an' a-weavin' slow, <br />Sighin' lak a sinnah-soul in pain. <br />Alligator grinnin' by de ol' lagoon, <br />Mockin'-bird a-singin' to be big full moon. <br />'Skeeter go a-skimmin' to his fightin' chune <br />(Lizy Ann's a-waitin' in de lane!). <br /> <br />Moccasin a-sleepin' in de cyprus swamp; <br />Need n't wake de gent'man, not fu' me. <br />Mule, you need n't wake him w'en you switch an' stomp, <br />Fightin' off a 'skeeter er a flea. <br />Florida is lovely, she's de fines' lan' <br />Evah seed de sunlight f'om de Mastah's han', <br />'Ceptin' fu' de varmints an' huh fleas an' san' <br />An' de nights w'en Lizy Ann ain' free. <br /> <br />Moon 's a-kinder shaddered on de melon patch; <br />No one ain't a-watchin' ez I go. <br />Climbin' of de fence so 's not to click de latch <br />Meks my gittin' in a little slow. <br />Watermelon smilin' as it say, 'I' s free;' <br />Alligator boomin', but I let him be, <br />Florida, oh, Florida 's de lan' fu' me-- <br />(Lizy Ann a-singin' sweet an' low).<br /><br />Paul Laurence Dunbar<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-florida-night/
