Noon
Shadder in de valleySunlight on de hill,Sut’ny wish dat locus’Knowed how to be still.Don’t de heat alreadyMek a body hum,‘Dout dat insec’ sayin’Hottah days to come?
Fiel’ ‘s a shinin’ yallerWid de bendin’ grain,Guinea hen a callin’,Now’s de time fu’ rain;Shet yo’ mouf, you rascal,Wha’ ‘s de use to cry?You do’ see no rain cloudsUp dah in de sky.
Dis hyeah sweat’s been po’in’Down my face sence dawn;Ain’t hit time we ‘s hyeahin’Dat ah dinnah ho’n?Go on, Ben an’ Jaspah,Lif yo’ feet an’ fly,Hit out fu’ de shadderFo’ I drap an’ die.
Hongry, lawd a’ mussy,Hongry as a baih,Seems lak I hyeah dinnahCallin’ evahwhaih;Daih ‘s de ho’n a blowin’!Let dat cradle swing,One mo’ sweep, den da’kies,Beat me to de spring!