The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar/Opportunity

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

For works with similar titles, see Opportunity.

GRANNY'S gone a-visitin',
          Seen huh git huh shawl
W'en I was a-hidin' down
          Hime de gyahden wall.
Seen huh put her bonnet on,
          Seen huh tie de strings,
An' I'se gone to dreamin' now
          'Bout dem cakes an' t'ings.

On de she'f behime de do'--
          Mussy, wat a feas'!
Soon ez she gits out o' sight,
          I kin eat in peace.
I bin watchin' fu' a week
          Des fu' dis hyeah chance.
Mussy, w'en I gits in daih,
          I'll des sholy dance.

Lemon pie an' gingah-cake,
          Let me set an' t'ink--
Vinegah an' sugah, too,
          Dat'll mek a drink;
Ef dey's one t'ing dat I loves
          Mos' pu'ticlahly,
It is eatin' sweet t'ings an'
          A-drinkin' Sangaree.

Lawdy, won' po' granny raih
          W'en she see de she'f;
W'en I t'ink erbout huh face,
          I's mos' 'shamed myse'f.
Well, she gone, an 'hyeah I is,
          Back behime de do'--
Look hyeah! Gran' 's done 'spected me,
          Dain't no sweets no mo'.

Evah sweet is hid erway,
          Job des done up brown;
Pusson t'ink dat someun t'ought
          Dey was t'eves erroun';
Dat des breaks my heart in two,
          Oh how bad I feel!
Des to t'ink my own gramma
          B'lieved dat I 'u'd steal!