What dat scratchin' at de kitchin do'? <br />Done heah'n dat foh an hour er mo'! <br />Tell you Mr. Niggah, das sho's yo' bo'n, <br />Hit's mighty lonesome waitin' when de folks is gone! <br /> <br />Blame my trap! How de wind do blow! <br />An' dis is das de night foh de witches, sho'! <br />Dey's trouble gon' to waste when de old slut whine, <br />An' you heah de cat a-spittin' when de moon don't shine! <br /> <br />Chune my fiddle, an' de bridge go 'bang!' <br />An' I lef' 'er right back whah she allus hang, <br />An' de tribble snap short an' de apern split <br />When dey no mortal man wah a-tetchin' hit! <br /> <br />Dah! Now, what? How de ole j'ice cracks! <br />'Spec' dis house, ef hit tell plain fac's, <br />'Ud talk about de ha'nts wid dey long tails on <br />What das'n't on'y come when de folks is gone! <br /> <br />What I tuk an' done ef a sho'-nuff ghos' <br />Pop right up by de ole bed-pos'? <br />What dat shinin' fru de front do' crack...? <br />God bress de Lo'd! Hit's de folks got back!<br /><br />James Whitcomb Riley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/when-de-folks-is-gone/
