OUT in de night a sad bird moans, <br />An', oh, but hit's moughty lonely; <br />Times I kin sing, but mos' I groans, <br />Fu' oh, but hit's moughty lonely! <br />Is you sleepin' well dis evenin', Marfy, deah? <br />W'en I calls you f'om de cabin, kin you hyeah? <br />'T ain't de same ol' place to me, <br />Nuffin' 's lak hit used to be, <br />W'en I knowed dat you was allus some'ers near. <br />Down by de road de shadders grows, <br />An', oh, but hit's moughty lonely; <br />Seem lak de ve'y moonlight knows, <br />An', oh, but hit's moughty lonely! <br />Does you know, I's cryin' fu' you, oh, my wife? <br />Does you know dey ain't no joy no mo' in life? <br />An' my only t'ought is dis, <br />Dat I's honin' fu' de bliss <br />Fu' to quit dis groun' o' worriment an' strife. <br />Dah on de baid my banjo lays, <br />An', oh, but hit's moughty lonely; <br />Can't even sta't a chune o' praise, <br />An', oh, but hit's moughty lonely! <br />Oh, hit's moughty slow a-waitin' hyeah below. <br />Is you watchin' fu' me, Marfy, at de do'? <br />Ef you is, in spite o' sin, <br />Dey'll be sho' to let me in, <br />W'en dey sees yo' face a-shinin', den dey'll know.<br /><br />Paul Laurence Dunbar<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-memory-of-martha/
