The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/A Frolic

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

SWING yo' lady roun' an' roun',
   Do de bes' you know;
Mek yo' bow an' p'omenade
   Up an' down de flo';
Mek dat banjo hump huhse'f,
   Listen at huh talk:
Mastah gone to town to-night;
   'T ain't no time to walk.

Lif' yo' feet an' flutter thoo,
   Run, Miss Lucy, run;
Reckon you'll be cotched an' kissed
   'Fo' de night is done.
You don't need to be so proud --
   I's a-watchin' you,
An' I's layin' lots o' plans
   Fu' to git you, too.

Moonlight on de cotton-fiel'
   Shinin' sof' an' white,
Whippo'will a-tellin' tales
   Out thaih in de night;
An' yo' cabin's 'crost de lot:
   Run, Miss Lucy, run;
Reckon you'll be cotched an' kissed
   'Fo' de night is done.