Candle-Lightin' Time

Paul Laurence Dunbar

When I come in f'om de co'n-fiel' aftah wukin' ha'd all day,

It's amazin' nice to fin' my suppah all erpon de way;

An' it's nice to smell de coffee bubblin' ovah in de pot,

An' it's fine to see de meat a-sizzlin' teasin'-lak an' hot.

But when suppah time is ovah an' de things is cl'ared away,

Den de happy hours dat foller are de sweetes' ob de day.

When my co'n-cob pipe is sta'ted, an' de smoke is drawin' prime,

My ole 'ooman says, "I reckon, Ike, it's candle-lightin' time."

Den de chillun snuggle up to me and all commence to call,

"Oh, say, daddy, now it's time to make de shadders on de wall."

So I puts my han's togethah—evah daddy knows de way—

An' de chillun snuggle closer roun' es I begin to say,

"Fus thing, hyeah come mistah Rabbit, don' you see him wuk his eahs?

Huh uh! dis mus' be a donky; look how innercent he 'pears!

Dah's de ole black swan a-swimmin', ain't she got a' awfu' neck?

Who's dis feller dat's a-comin'? why, dat's ole dog Tray I 'spec!"

Dat's de way I run on, tryin' fer to please 'em all I can;

Den I hollahs, "Now be keerful, dis hyeah las' 's de buga-man!"

An' dey runs an' hides dey faces; dey ain't skeered—dey's lettin' on,

But de play ain't raaly ovah twell dat buga-man is gone.

So I jes' takes up my banjo an' I plays a little chune,

An' you see dem hai'ds come peepin' out to listen mighty soon.

Den my wife say, "Sich a pappy fer to give you sich a fright!

Jes' you go to bed, an' leave him, say yo' prayers, an' say good night."