Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow/The Plantation Child's Lullaby

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

Layout 2

THE PLANTATION CHILD'S LULLABY

WINTAH time hit comin'
 Stealin' thoo de night;
Wake up in the mo'nin'
 Evah ting is white;
Cabin lookin' lonesome
 Stannin' in de snow,
Meks you kin' o' nervous,
 W'en de win' hit blow.

Trompin' back from feedin',
 Col' an' wet an' blue,
Homespun jacket ragged,
 Win' a-blowin' thoo.
Cabin lookin' cheerful,
 Unnerneaf de do',
Yet you kin' o' keerful
 W'en de win' hit blow.

Hickory log a-blazin'
 Light a-lookin' red,
Faith o' eyes o' peepin'
 R'om a trun'le bed,
Little feet a-patterin'
 Cleak across de flo';
Bettah had be keerful
 W'en de win' hit blow.

Suppah done an' ovah,
 Evah t'ing is still;
Listen to de snowman
 Slippin' down de hill.
Ashes on de fiah,
 Keep it wa'm but low.
What's de use o' keerin'
 Ef de win' do blow?

Smoke house full o' bacon,
 Brown an' sweet an' good;
Taters in de cellah.
 'Possum roam de wood;
Little baby snoozin'
 Des ez ef he know.
What's de use o' keerin'
 Ef de win' do blow?