The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/A Preference

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

A PREFERENCE

Mastah drink his ol' Made'a,
  Missy drink huh sherry wine,
Ovahseah lak his whiskey,
  But dat othah drink is mine,
    Des' 'lasses an' watah, 'lasses an' watah.

Wen you git a steamin' hoe-cake
  On de table, go way, man!
'D ain but one t'ing to go wid it,
  'Sides de gravy in de pan,
    Dat 's 'lasses an' watah, 'lasses an' watah.

W'en hit 's 'possum dat you eatin',
  'Simmon beer is moughty sweet;
But fu' evahday consumin'
  'D ain't no mo'tal way to beat
    Des' 'lasses an' watah, 'lasses an' watah.

W'y de bees is allus busy,
  An' ain' got no time to was'?
Hit's beca'se dey knows de honey
  Dey 's a makin', gwine to tas'
    Lak 'lasses an' watah, 'lasses an' watah.

Oh, hit 's moughty mil' an' soothin',
  An' hit don' go to yo' haid;
Dat 's de reason I 's a-backin'
  Up de othah wo'ds I said,
    "Des 'lasses an' watah, 'lasses an' watah."