[Carl Copeland]

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

Signs of the Times

Air a-gittin’ cool an’ coolah,
     Frost a-comin’ in de night,
Hicka’ nuts an’ wa’nuts fallin’,
     Possum keepin’ out o’ sight.
Tu’key struttin’ in de ba’nya’d,
     Nary a step so proud ez his;
Keep on struttin’, Mistah Tu’key,
     Yo’ do’ know whut time it is.

Cidah press commence a-squeakin’
     Eatin’ apples sto’ed away,
Chillun swa’min’ ’roun’ lak ho’nets,
     Huntin’ aigs ermung de hay.
Mistah Tu’key keep on gobblin’
     At de geese a-flyin’ souf,
Oomph! dat bird do’ know whut’s comin’;
     Ef he did he’d shet his mouf.

Pumpkin gittin’ good an’ yallah
     Mek me open up my eyes;
Seems lak it’s a-lookin’ at me
     Jes’ a-la’in’ dah sayin’ “Pies.”
Tu’key gobbler gwine ’roun’ blowin’,
     Gwine ‘roun’ gibbin’ sass an’ slack;
Keep on talkin’, Mistah Tu’key,
     You ain’t seed no almanac.

Fa’mer walkin’ th’oo de ba’nya’d
     Seein’ how things is comin’ on,
Sees ef all de fowls is fatt’nin’ —
     Good times comin’ sho’s you bo’n.
Hyeahs dat tu’key gobbler braggin’,
     Den his face break in a smile —
Nebbah min’, you sassy rascal,
     He’s gwine nab you atter while.

Choppin’ suet in de kitchen,
     Stonin’ raisins in de hall,
Beef a-cookin’ fu’ de mince meat,
     Spices groun’ — I smell ’em all.
Look hyeah, Tu’key, stop dat gobblin’,
     You ain’ luned de sense ob feah,
You ol’ fool, yo’ naik’s in dangah,
     Do’ you know Thanksgibbin’s hyeah?