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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A PLANTATION MELODY, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: De trees is bendin' in de st'om Last Line: Lay low in de wildaness. Subject(s): African Americans - Song & Music; Slavery; Serfs | |||
DE trees is bendin' in de sto'm, De rain done hid de mountain's fo'm, I 's 'lone an' in distress. But listen, dah 's a voice I hyeah, A-sayin' to me, loud an' cleah, "Lay low in de wildaness." De lightnin' flash, de bough sway low, My po' sick hea't is trimblin' so, It hu'ts my very breas'. But him dat give de lightnin' powah Jes' bids me in de tryin' howah "Lay low in de wildaness." O brothah, w'en de tempes' beat, An' w'en yo' weary head an' feet Can't fin' no place to res', Jes' 'membah dat de Mastah 's nigh, An' putty soon you 'll hyeah de cry, "Lay low in de wildaness." O sistah, w'en de rain come down, An' all yo' hopes is 'bout to drown, Don't trus' de Mastah less. He smilin' w'en you t'ink he frown, He ain' gwine let yo' soul sink down -- Lay low in de wildaness. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...JOY IN THE WOODS by CLAUDE MCKAY ELIZABETH KECKLEY: 30 YEARS A SLAVE AND 4 YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSE by E. ETHELBERT MILLER EMANCIPATION by ELIZABETH ALEXANDER JOHN BROWN'S BODY by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET ERE SLEEP COMES DOWN TO SOOTHE THE WEARY EYES by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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