A Plea

A Plea by Paul Laurence Dunbar

In the 1913 collection of his work, The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar.

            A PLEA

Treat me nice, Miss Mandy Jane,
     Treat me nice.
Dough my love has tu'ned my brain,
     Treat me nice.
I ain't done a t'ing to shame,
Lovahs all ac's jes' de same;
Don't you know we ain't to blame?
     Treat me nice!

Cose I know I 's talkin' wild;
     Treat me nice;
I cain't talk no bettah, child,
     Treat me nice;
Whut a pusson gwine to do,
Wen he come a-cou'tin' you
All a-trimblin' thoo and thoo?
     Please be nice.

Reckon I mus' go de paf
     Othahs do:
Lovahs lingah, ladies laff;
     Mebbe you
Do' mean all the things you say,
An' pu'haps some latah day
W'en I baig you ha'd, you may
     Treat me nice!

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.