When I come in f'om de co'n-fiel' aftah wo'kin' ha'd all day, <br />It 's amazin' nice to fin' my suppah all erpon de way; <br />An' it 's nice to smell de coffee bubblin' ovah in de pot, <br />An' it 's fine to see de meat a-sizzlin' teasin'-lak an' hot. <br /> <br />But when suppah-time is ovah, an' de t'ings is cleahed away; <br />Den de happy hours dat foller are de sweetes' of de day. <br />When my co'ncob pipe is sta'ted, an' de smoke is drawin' prime, <br />My ole 'ooman says, 'I reckon, Ike, it 's candle-lightin' time.' <br /> <br />Den de chillun snuggle up to me, an' all commence to call, <br />'Oh, say, daddy, now it 's time to mek de shadders on de wall.' <br />So I puts my han's togethah--evah daddy knows de way,-- <br />An' de chillun snuggle closer roun' ez I begin to say:-- <br /> <br />'Fus' thing, hyeah come Mistah Rabbit; don' you see him wo'k his <br /> <br />eahs? <br />Huh, uh! dis mus' be a donkey,--look, how innercent he 'pears! <br />Dah 's de ole black swan a-swimmin'--ain't she got a' awful neck? <br />Who 's dis feller dat 's a-comin'? Why, dat 's ole dog Tray, I 'spec'!' <br /> <br />Dat 's de way I run on, tryin' fu' to please 'em all I can; <br />Den I hollahs, 'Now be keerful--dis hyeah las' 's de buga-man!' <br />An' dey runs an' hides dey faces; dey ain't skeered--dey 's lettin' on: <br />But de play ain't raaly ovah twell dat buga-man is gone. <br /> <br />So I jes' teks up my banjo, an' I plays a little chune, <br />An' you see dem haids come peepin' out to listen mighty soon. <br />Den my wife says, 'Sich a pappy fu' to give you sich a fright! <br />Jes, you go to baid, an' leave him: say yo' prayers an' say good-night.'<br /><br />Paul Laurence Dunbar<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/at-candle-lightin-time/
