A Frolic

By Paul Laurence Dunbar

SWING yo' lady roun' an' roun',

  Do de bes' you know;

Mek yo' bow an' p'omenade

  Up an' down de flo';

Mek dat banjo hump huhse'f,

  Listen at huh talk:

Mastah gone to town to-night;

  'T ain't no time to walk.

Lif' yo' feet an' flutter thoo,

  Run, Miss Lucy, run;

Reckon you'll be cotched an' kissed

  'Fo' de night is done.

You don't need to be so proud —

  I's a-watchin' you,

An' I's layin' lots o' plans

  Fu' to git you, too.

Moonlight on de cotton-fiel'

  Shinin' sof' an' white,

Whippo'will a-tellin' tales

  Out thaih in de night;

An' yo' cabin's 'crost de lot:

  Run, Miss Lucy, run;

Reckon you'll be cotched an' kissed

  'Fo' de night is done.