1643. Hymn by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Stedman, Edmund Clarence, ed. 1900. An American Anthology, 1787-1900

Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

1643. Hymn

By Paul Laurence Dunbar


O LI’L’ lamb out in de col’,
De Mastah call you to de fol’,
O li’l’ lamb!
He hyeah you bleatin’ on de hill;
Come hyeah an’ keep yo’ mou’nin’ still,	5
O li’l’ lamb!

De Mastah sen’ de Shepud fo’f;
He wandah souf, he wandah no’f,
O li’l’ lamb!
He wandah eas’, he wandah wes’;	10
De win’ a-wrenchin’ at his breas’,
O li’l’ lamb!

Oh, tell de Shepud whaih you hide;
He want you walkin’ by his side,
O li’l’ lamb!	15
He know you weak, he know you so’;
But come, don’ stay away no mo’,
O li’l’ lamb!

An’ af’ ah while de lamb he hyeah
De Shepud’s voice a-callin’ cleah—	20
Sweet li’l’ lamb!
He answah f’om de brambles thick,
“O Shepud, I ’s a-comin’ quick”—
O li’l’ lamb!