Classic and Contemporary Poetry
HOME LONGINGS, by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poet's Biography First Line: I've been here fur many days Last Line: Out fur home. Subject(s): Homecoming | ||||||||
I've been here fur many days Standin' in the city's maze, Jumpin' out and skippin' in, List'nin' to the roar an' din, Gettin' hard an' keen an' cold Growin' gray before I'm old; I want home. Home's the best place after all; When the leaves begin to fall An' the frosty atmosphere Hints o' winter drawin' near, Seems as ef yore mind goes back Mighty swift along the track 'At leads home. Want to see the ole house there, Want to breathe a breath o' air That ain't filled with dust or smoke, Want to be where banks ain't broke, Where yer treasure ends an' starts In yer comrades' brimmin' hearts. That's at home. Want to see yer mother stand In the door an' wave her hand At you comin' up the road, Want to shake off all the load -- Care an' pain, an' grief an' strife 'At beset a city life An' git home. Want to git back to the fields, Where the hand o' nature yields Due reward fur honest toil; Want to tread the good ole soil 'At I ust to tread in glee -- Happy as I ust to be, There at home. Want to hear the cattle brown Lowin' as the sun goes down, Change these tracks an' rumblin' cars Fur the sight o' paster bars, Drop the pen an' take the plow That's the thing to ketch me now That -- an' home. Want some kale greens -- smooth as silk, Want to drink some buttermilk, Want to eat some griddle cakes -- Them good kin', whut mother makes. Want some butter, some 'at ain't Made o' grease an' yaller paint. Some from home. Oh, the days grow sad an' long, Life seems all a mournful song, Nuthin' seems so fair er free As it ust to seem to me. Nuthin' ever will seem right Tell I pack my grip an' light Out fur home. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...COMING HOME AT TWILIGHT IN LATE SUMMER by JANE KENYON THE NEGATIVES by PHILIP LEVINE THE WATER'S CHANT by PHILIP LEVINE THE EXILE'S RETURN by ROBERT LOWELL THE RETURN by EDGAR LEE MASTERS TAKING THE TRAIN HOME by WILLIAM MATTHEWS I SHALL RETURN by CLAUDE MCKAY A BANJO SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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