I love the rhythm and language of the poem "A Negro Love Song" by Paul Dunbar. It seems fitting to share given that Valentine’s Day is coming soon and it’s Black History Month.
Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 – 1906) was born in Ohio. He wrote poems, plays and novels in both English and Historical Black American English (called African American Vernacular English). He’s one of my favorite poets!
Below you can listen to a recording of the poem "A Negro Love Song" and read along with the text.
Enjoy!
Mama Lisa
MP3 Recording of A Negro Love Song
A Negro Love Song
By Paul Laurence Dunbar
Seen my lady home las’ night,
Jump back, honey, jump back.
Hel’ huh han’ an’ sque’z it tight,
Jump back, honey, jump back.
Hyeahd huh sigh a little sigh,
Seen a light gleam f’om huh eye,
An’ a smile go flittin’ by—
Jump back, honey, jump back.
Hyeahd de win’ blow thoo de pine,
Jump back, honey, jump back.
Mockin’-bird was singin’ fine,
Jump back, honey, jump back.
An’ my hea’t was beatin’ so,
When I reached my lady’s do’,
Dat I could n’t ba’ to go—
Jump back, honey, jump back.
Put my ahm aroun’ huh wais’,
Jump back, honey, jump back.
Raised huh lips an’ took a tase,
Jump back, honey, jump back.
Love me, honey, love me true?
Love me well ez I love you?
An’ she answe’d, "’Cose I do"—
Jump back, honey, jump back.
Recited by Victoria Grace
This article was posted on Saturday, February 11th, 2017 at 7:51 pm and is filed under Black History Month, Countries & Cultures, English, Historical African American, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Poetry, USA, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day Poems. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
2 Responses to “A Negro Love Song – A Poem by Paul Dunbar”
Leave a Reply
March 17th, 2017 at 10:42 pm
Paul Laurence Dunbar wrote Southern Lullaby, music by William Walters Gilchrist in 1897. Walters should get you lyrics with music. If not do a search for William Walters Gilchrist at Archive.org.
March 19th, 2017 at 3:17 pm
I found the score to Southern Lullaby here.