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Paul Laurence Dunbar - Speakin` O` Christmas
Work rating: Low

BREEZES blowin` middlin` brisk,
Snow-flakes thro` the air a-whisk,
Fallin` kind o` soft an` light,
Not enough to make things white,
But jest sorter siftin` down
So`s to cover up the brown
Of the dark world`s rugged ways
`N` make things look like holidays.
Not smoothed over, but jest specked,
Sorter strainin` fur effect,
An` not quite a-gittin` through
What it started in to do.
Mercy sakes! it does seem queer
Christmas day is `most nigh here.
Somehow it don`t seem to me
Christmas like it used to be,—
Christmas with its ice an` snow,
Christmas of the long ago.
You could feel its stir an` hum 

Weeks an` weeks before it come;
Somethin` in the atmosphere
Told you when the day was near,
Didn`t need no almanacs;
That was one o` Nature`s fac`s.
Every cottage decked out gay —
Cedar wreaths an` holly spray —
An` the stores, how they were drest,
Tinsel tell you couldn`t rest;
Every winder fixed up pat,
Candy canes, an` things like that;
Noah`s arks, an` guns, an` dolls,
An` all kinds o` fol-de-rols.
Then with frosty bells a-chime,
Slidin` down the hills o` time,
Right amidst the fun an` din
Christmas come a-bustlin` in,
Raised his cheery voice to call
Out a welcome to us all.
Hale and hearty, strong an` bluff,
That was Christmas, sure enough.
Snow knee-deep an` coastin` fine,
Frozen mill-ponds all ashine, 
Seemin` jest to lay in wait,
Beggin` you to come an` skate.
An` you`d git your gal an` go
Stumpin` cheerily thro` the snow,
Feelin` pleased an` skeert an` warm
`Cause she had a-holt yore arm.
Why, when Christmas come in, we
Spent the whole glad day in glee,
Havin` fun an` feastin` high
An` some courtin` on the sly.
Bustin` in some neighbor`s door
An` then suddenly, before
He could give his voice a lift,
Yellin` at him, "Christmas gift."
Now sich things are never heard,
"Merry Christmas" is the word.
But it`s only change o` name,
An` means givin` jest the same.
There`s too many new-styled ways
Now about the holidays.
I`d jest like once more to see
Christmas like it used to be!
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