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