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Paul Laurence Dunbar - When Malindy Sings
Work rating: Medium

G`WAY an` quit dat noise, Miss Lucy —
          Put dat music book away;
What`s de use to keep on tryin`?
          Ef you practise twell you`re gray,
You cain`t sta`t no notes a-flyin`
          Lak de ones dat rants and rings
F`om de kitchen to be big woods
          When Malindy sings.

You ain`t got de nachel o`gans
          Fu` to make de soun` come right,
You ain`t got de tu`ns an` twistin`s
          Fu` to make it sweet an` light.
Tell you one thing now, Miss Lucy,
          An` I`m tellin` you fu` true,
When hit comes to raal right singin`,
          `T ain`t no easy thing to do.

Easy `nough fu` folks to hollah,
          Lookin` at de lines an` dots,
When dey ain`t no one kin sence it,
          An` de chune comes in, in spots;
But fu` real melojous music,
          Dat jes` strikes yo` hea`t and clings,
Jes` you stan` an` listen wif me
          When Malindy sings.

Ain`t you nevah hyeahd Malindy?
          Blessed soul, tek up de cross!
Look hyeah, ain`t you jokin`, honey?
          Well, you don`t know whut you los`.
Y` ought to hyeah dat gal a-wa`blin`,
          Robins, la`ks, an` all dem things,
Heish dey moufs an` hides dey faces
          When Malindy sings.

Fiddlin` man jes` stop his fiddlin`,
          Lay his fiddle on de she`f;
Mockin`-bird quit tryin` to whistle,
          `Cause he jes` so shamed hisse`f.
Folks a-playin` on de banjo
          Draps dey fingahs on de strings—
Bless yo` soul—fu`gits to move em,
          When Malindy sings.

She jes` spreads huh mouf and hollahs,
          "Come to Jesus," twell you hyeah
Sinnahs` tremblin` steps and voices,
          Timid-lak a-drawin` neah;
Den she tu`ns to "Rock of Ages,"
          Simply to de cross she clings,
An` you fin` yo` teahs a-drappin`
          When Malindy sings.

Who dat says dat humble praises
          Wif de Master nevah counts?
Heish yo` mouf, I hyeah dat music,
          Ez hit rises up an` mounts—
Floatin` by de hills an` valleys,
          Way above dis buryin` sod,
Ez hit makes its way in glory
          To de very gates of God!

Oh, hit`s sweetah dan de music
          Of an edicated band;
An` hit`s dearah dan de battle`s
          Song o` triumph in de lan`.
It seems holier dan evenin`
          When de solemn chu`ch bell rings,
Ez I sit an` ca`mly listen
          While Malindy sings.

Towsah, stop dat ba`kin`, hyeah me!
          Mandy, mek dat chile keep still;
Don`t you hyeah de echoes callin`
          F`om de valley to de hill?
Let me listen, I can hyeah it,
          Th`oo de bresh of angels` wings,
Sof` an` sweet, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,"
          Ez Malindy sings.
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