AIN'T it nice to have a mammy <br />W'en you kin' o' tiahed out <br />Wid a-playin' in de meddah, <br />An' a-runnin' roun' about <br />Till hit's made you mighty hongry, <br />An' yo' nose hit gits to know <br />What de smell means dat's a-comin' <br />F'om de open cabin do'? <br />She wash yo' face, <br />An' mek yo' place, <br />You's hongry as a tramp; <br />Den hit's eat you suppah right away, <br />You sta'vin' little scamp. <br />W'en you's full o' braid an' bacon, <br />An' dey ain't no mo' to eat, <br />An' de lasses dat's a-stickin' <br />On yo' face ta'se kin' o' sweet, <br />Don' you t'ink hit's kin' o' pleasin' <br />Fu' to have som'body neah <br />Dat'll wipe yo' han's an' kiss you <br />Fo' dey lif' you f'ore yo cheah? <br />To smile so sweet, <br />An' wash yo' feet, <br />An' leave 'em co'l an' damp; <br />Den hit's come let me undress you, now <br />You lazy little scamp. <br />Don' yo' eyes git awful heavy, <br />An' yo' lip git awful slack, <br />Ain't dey som'p'n' kin' o' weaknin' <br />In de backbone of yo' back? <br />Don' yo' knees feel kin' o' trimbly, <br />An' yo' head go bobbin' roun', <br />W'en you says yo' 'Now I lay me,' <br />An' is sno'in' on de 'down '? <br />She kiss yo' nose, <br />She kiss yo' toes, <br />An' den tu'n out de lamp, <br />Den hit's creep into yo' trunnel baid, <br />You sleepy little scamp.<br /><br />Paul Laurence Dunbar<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/scamp/
