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Paul Laurence Dunbar - Fishing
Work rating: Low

Wen I git up in de mo`nin` an` de clouds is big an` black,
  Dey`s a kin` o` wa`nin` shivah goes a-scootin` down my back;
  Den I says to my ol` ooman ez I watches down de lane,
  "Don`t you so`t o` reckon, Lizy, dat we gwine to have some rain?"

  "Go on, man," my Lizy answah, "you cain`t fool me, not a bit,
  I don`t see no rain a-comin`, ef you`s wishin` fu` it, quit;
  Case de mo` you t`ink erbout it, an de mo` you pray an` wish,
  W`y de rain stay `way de longah, spechul ef you wants to fish."

  But I see huh pat de skillet, an` I see huh cas` huh eye
  Wid a kin` o` anxious motion to`ds de da`kness in de sky;
  An` I knows whut she `s a-t`inkin`, dough she tries so ha`d to hide.
  She `s a-sayin`, "Would n`t catfish now tas`e monst`ous bully, fried?"

  Den de clouds git black an` blackah, an` de thundah `mence to roll,
  An` de rain, it `mence a-fallin`. Oh, I`s happy, bless my soul!
  Ez I look at dat ol` skillet, an` I `magine I kin see
  Jes` a slew o` new-ketched catfish sizzlin` daih fu` huh an` me.

  `T ain`t no use to go a-ploughin`, fu` de groun` `ll be too wet,
  So I puts out fu` de big house at a moughty pace, you bet,
  An` ol` mastah say, "Well, Lishy, ef you t`ink hit `s gwine to rain,
  Go on fishin`, hit `s de weathah, an` I `low we cain`t complain."

  Talk erbout a dahky walkin` wid his haid up in de aih!
  Have to feel mine evah minute to be sho` I got it daih;
  En` de win` is cuttin` capahs an` a-lashin` thoo de trees,
  But de rain keeps on a-singin` blessed songs, lak "Tek yo` ease."

  Wid my pole erpon my shouldah an` my wo`m can in my han`,
  I kin feel de fish a-waitin` w`en I strikes de rivah`s san`;
  Nevah min`, you ho`ny scoun`els, need n` swim erroun` an` grin,
  I `ll be grinnin` in a minute w`en I `mence to haul you in.

  W`en de fish begin to nibble, an` de co`k begin to jump,
  I `s erfeahed dat dey `ll quit bitin`, case dey hyeah my hea`t go "thump,"
  `Twell de co`k go way down undah, an` I raise a awful shout,
  Ez a big ol` yallah belly comes a gallivantin` out.

  Need n`t wriggle, Mistah Catfish, case I got you jes` de same,
  You been eatin`, I `ll be eatin`, an` we needah ain`t to blame.
  But you need n`t feel so lonesome fu` I `s th`owin` out to see
  Ef dey ain`t some of yo` comrades fu` to keep you company.

  Spo`t, dis fishin`! now you talkin`, w`y dey ain`t no kin` to beat;
  I don` keer ef I is soakin`, laigs, an` back, an` naik, an` feet,
  It `s de spo`t I `s lookin` aftah. Hit `s de pleasure an` de fun,
  Dough I knows dat Lizy `s waitin` wid de skillet w`en I`s done.
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