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Paul Laurence Dunbar - The Turning Of The Babies In The Bed
Work rating: Medium

Woman`s sho` a cur`ous critter, an` dey ain`t no doubtin` dat.
  She`s a mess o` funny capahs f`om huh slippahs to huh hat.
  Ef you tries to un`erstan` huh, an` you fails, des` up an` say:
  "D` ain`t a bit o` use to try to un`erstan` a woman`s way."

  I don` mean to be complainin`, but I `s jes` a-settin` down
  Some o` my own obserwations, w`en I cas` my eye eroun`.
  Ef you ax me fu` to prove it, I ken do it mighty fine,
  Fu` dey ain`t no bettah `zample den dis ve`y wife o` mine.

  In de ve`y hea`t o` midnight, w`en I `s sleepin` good an` soun`,
  I kin hyeah a so`t o` rustlin` an` somebody movin` `roun`.
  An` I say, "Lize, whut you doin`?" But she frown an` shek huh haid,
  "Heish yo` mouf, I`s only tu`nin` of de chillun in de bed.

  "Don` you know a chile gits restless, layin` all de night one way?
  An` you` got to kind o` `range him sev`al times befo` de day?
  So de little necks won`t worry, an` de little backs won`t break;
  Don` you t`ink case chillun `s chillun dey hain`t got no pain an` ache."

  So she shakes `em, an` she twists `em, an` she tu`ns `em `roun` erbout,
  `Twell I don` see how de chillun evah keeps f`om hollahin` out.
  Den she lif`s `em up head down`ards, so`s dey won`t git livahgrown,
  But dey snoozes des` ez peaceful ez a liza`d on a stone.

  W`en hit`s mos` nigh time fu` wakin` on de dawn o` jedgment day,
  Seems lak I kin hyeah ol` Gab`iel lay his trumpet down an` say,
  "Who dat walkin` `roun` so easy, down on earf ermong de dead?"--
  `T will be Lizy up a-tu`nin` of de chillun in de bed.
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