Caroling Dusk/Death Song

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

For other versions of this work, see A Death Song.

DEATH SONG^[1]

Lay me down beneaf de willers in de grass,Whah de branch'll go a-singin' as it pass.An' w'en I's a-layin' low,I kin hyeah it as it goSingin', "Sleep, my honey, tek yo' res' at las'."

Lay me nigh to whah hit meks a little pool,An' de watah stan's so quiet lak an' cool,Whah de little birds in spring,Ust to come an' drink an' sing,An' de chillen waded on dey way to school.

Let me settle w’en my shouldahs draps dey loadNigh enough to hyeah de noises in de road; Fu’ I t’ink de las’ long res’ Gwine to soothe my sperrit bes’If I’s layin’ ’mong de t’ings I’s allus knowed.

1. Copyright 1896 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc.