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Paul Laurence Dunbar - Curiosity
Work rating: Low

MAMMY`S in de kitchen, an` de do` is shet;
All de pickaninnies climb an` tug an` sweat,
Gittin` to de winder, stickin` dah lak flies,
Evah one ermong us des all nose an` eyes.
"Whut`s she cookin`, Isaac?" "Whut`s she cookin`, Jake?"
"Is it sweet pertaters? Is hit pie er cake?"
But we couldn`t mek out even whah we stood
Whut was mammy cookin` dat could smell so good.
Mammy spread de winder, an` she frown an frown.
How de pickaninnies come a-tumblin` down!
Den she say: "Ef you-all keeps a-peepin` in,
How I`se gwine to whup you, my! `t `ill be a sin!
Need n` come a-sniffin` an` a-nosin` hyeah,
`Ca`se I knows my business, nevah feah."
Won`t somebody tell us — how I wish dey would! — 
Whut is mammy cookin` dat it smells so good?
We know she means business, an` we dassent stay,
Dough it`s mighty tryin` fuh to go erway; 
But we goes a-troopin` down de ol` wood-track
`Twell dat steamin` kitchen brings us stealin` back,
Climbin` an` a-peepin` so`s to see inside. 
Whut on earf kin mammy be so sha`p to hide?
I`d des up an` tell folks w`en I knowed I could,
Ef I was a-cookin` t`ings dat smelt so good.
Mammy in de oven, an` I see huh smile;
Moufs mus` be a-wat`rin` roun` hyeah fuh a mile;
Den we almos` hollah ez we hu`ies down,
`Ca`se hit`s apple dumplin`s, big an` fat an` brown!
W`en de do` is opened, solemn lak an` slow,
Wisht you see us settin` all dah in a row
Innercent an` p`opah, des lak chillun should
W`en dey mammy`s cookin` t`ings dat smell so good.
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