Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow/Faith

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Layout 2

FAITH

I'S a-gittin' weary of de way dat people do,
 De folks dat's got dey 'ligion in dey fiah-
  place an' flue;
Dey's allus somep'n comin' so de spit'll have
  to turn,
An' hit tain't no p'oposition fu' to mek de
  hickory bu'n.
Ef de sweet pertater fails us an' de go'geous
  yallah yam,
We kin tek a bit o' comfo't f'om ouah sto'
  o' summah jam.
W'en de snow hit git to flyin', dat's de Mas-
  tah's own desiah,
De Lawd'll run de wintah an' yo' mammy'll
  run de fiah.
 
I ain' skeered because de win' hit staht to raih
  and blow,
I ain't bothahed w'en he come er rattlin' at
  de do',
Let him taih hisse'f an' shout, let him blow an'
  bawl,
Dat's de time de branches shek an' bresh-wood
  'mence to fall.
W'en de sto'm er railin' an' de shettahs blowin'
  'bout,
Dat de time de fiah-place crack hits welcome
  out.
Tain' my livin' business fu' to trouble ner
  enquiah,
De Lawd'll min' de wintah an' my mammy'll
  min' de fiah.
 
Ash-cake allus gits ez brown w'en February's
  hyeah
Ez it does in bakin' any othah time o' yeah.
De bacon smell ez callin'-like, de kittle rock
  an' sing,
De same way in de wintah dat dey do it in de
  spring;
Dey ain't no use in mopin' 'round an' lookin'
  mad an' glum
Erbout de wintah season, fu' hit's des plumb
  boun' to come;
 
An' ef it comes to runnin' t'ings I's willin' to
  retiah,
De Lawd'll min' de wintah an' my mammy'll
  min' de fiah.