The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/A Warm Day In Winter

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

A WARM DAY IN WINTER

"Sunshine on de medders,
  Greenness on de way;
Dat 's de blessed reason
  I sing all de day."
Look hyeah! Whut you axin'?
  Whut meks me so merry?
'Spect to see me sighin'
  W'en hit's wa'm in Febawary?

'Long de stake an' rider
  Seen a robin set;
W'y hit 'mence a-thawin',
  Groun' is monst'ous wet.
Den you stan' dah wond'rin',
  Lookin' skeert an' stary;
I's a right to caper
  W'en hit's wa'm in Febawary.

Missis gone a-drivin',
  Mastah gone to shoot;
Ev'ry da'ky lazin'
  In de sun to boot.
Qua'tah 's moughty pleasant,
  Hangin' 'roun' my Mary;
Cou'tin' boun' to prospah
  W'en hit's wa'm in Febawary.

Cidah look so pu'ty
  Po'in' f'om de jug—
Don' you see it's happy?
  Hyeah it laffin'—glug?
Now's de time fu' people
  Fu' to try an' bury
All dey grief an' sorrer,
  W'en hit's wa'm in Febawary.