| James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938). The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922. |
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| A Death Song |
| | | Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906) |
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| LAY me down beneaf de willers in de grass, | |
| Whah de branch’ll go a-singin’ as it pass | |
| An’ w’en I’s a-layin’ low, | |
| I kin hyeah it as it go | |
| Singin’, “Sleep, my honey, tek yo’ res’ at las’.” | 5 |
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| Lay me nigh to whah hit meks a little pool, | |
| An’ de watah stan’s so quiet lak an’ cool, | |
| Whah de little birds in spring, | |
| Ust to come an’ drink an’ sing, | |
| An’ de chillen waded on dey way to school. | 10 |
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| Let me settle w’en my shouldahs draps dey load | |
| Nigh enough to hyeah de noises in de road; | |
| Fu’ I t’ink de las’ long res’ | |
| Gwine to soothe my sperrit bes’ | |
| If I’s layin’ ’mong de t’ings I’s allus knowed. | 15 |
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