A Confidence Poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar

A Confidence

Rating: 2.8


UNCLE JOHN, he makes me tired;
Thinks 'at he's jest so all-fired
Smart, 'at he kin pick up, so,
Ever'thing he wants to know.
Tried to ketch me up last night,
But you bet I wouldn't bite.
I jest kep' the smoothes' face,
But I led him sich a chase,
Couldn't corner me, you bet —
I skipped all the traps he set.
Makin' out he wan'ed to know
Who was this an' that girl's beau;
So's he'd find out, don't you see,
Who was goin' 'long with me.
But I answers jest ez sly,
An' I never winks my eye,
Tell he hollers with a whirl,
'Look here, ain't you got a girl? '
Y' ought 'o seen me spread my eyes,
Like he'd took me by surprise,
An' I said, 'Oh, Uncle John,
Never thought o' havin' one.'
An' somehow that seemed to tickle
Him an' he shelled out a nickel.
Then you ought to seen me leave
Jest a-laffin' in my sleeve.
Fool him — well, I guess I did;
He ain't on to this here kid.
Got a girl! well, I guess yes,
Got a dozen more or less,
But I got one reely one,
Not no foolin' ner no fun;
Fur I'm sweet on her, you see,
An' I ruther guess 'at she
Must be kinder sweet on me,
So we're keepin' company.
Honest Injun! this is true,
Ever' word I'm tellin' you!
But you won't be sich a scab
Ez to run aroun' an' blab.
Mebbe 't ain't the way with you,
But you know some fellers do.
Spoils a girl to let her know
'At you talk about her so.
Don't you know her? her name's Liz,
Nicest girl in town she is.
Purty? oh, git out, you gilly —
Liz 'ud purt 'nigh knock you silly.
Y' ought 'o see her when she's dressed
All up in her Sunday best,
All the fellers nudgin' me,
An' a-whisperin', gemunee!
Betcher life 'at I feel proud
When she passes by the crowd.
'T's kinder nice to be a-goin'
With a girl 'at makes some showin' —
One you know 'at hain't no snide,
Makes you feel so satisfied.
An' I'll tell you she's a trump,
Never even seen her jump
Like some silly girls 'ud do,
When I'd hide and holier 'Boo! '
She'd jest laff an' say 'Git out!
What you hollerin' about? '
When some girls 'ud have a fit
That 'un don't git skeered a bit,
Never makes a bit o' row
When she sees a worm er cow.
Them kind's few an' far between;
Bravest girl I ever seen.
Tell you 'nuther thing she'll do,
Mebbe you won't think it's true,
But if she's jest got a dime
She 'll go halvers ever' time.
Ah, you goose, you needn't laff;
That's the kinder girl to have.
If you knowed her like I do,
Guess you'd kinder like her too.
Tell you somep'n' if you'll swear
You won't tell it anywhere.
Oh, you got to cross yer heart
Earnest, truly, 'fore I start.
Well, one day I kissed her cheek;
Gee, but I felt cheap an' weak,
'Cause at first she kinder flared,
'N', gracious goodness! I was scared.
But I needn't been, fer la!
Why, she never told her ma.
That's what I call grit, don't you?
Sich a girl's worth stickin' to.

A Confidence
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Kumarmani Mahakul 20 February 2018

Great work. Beautiful poem.

2 0 Reply
Bernard F. Asuncion 20 February 2019

A nice chance to read again this captivating poem.....

2 0 Reply
Ruta Mohapatra 20 February 2018

So sweet a poem for a beloved! Liked it.

1 0 Reply
Bernard F. Asuncion 20 February 2018

Such a great poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar👍👍👍

1 0 Reply
Khairul Ahsan 21 February 2019

Too long a poem to sink in!

0 0 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 20 February 2019

A beautiful life song, sweet and a pleasure to read.

0 0 Reply
Hebert Logerie 20 February 2019

I have a lot respect for the great Poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar. He is a very special and intelligent Poet.

0 0 Reply
James Mclain 20 February 2019

It's a shame that so many of the good poets, lived such short lives. That consumption and mental illness claimed more than there fair share.

0 0 Reply
Hebert Logerie 20 February 2019

Thanks to the Almighty God: I am not mentally sick. Maybe when I'll be a good poet, I'll be sick. When I'll be a great poet, I'll even be sicker. Lol. This is what I am talking about. I'll always be fine.

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Savita Tyagi 20 February 2019

Loved reading the story in its diction. Little hard to understand some words but getting a hang of its sweet rhythm.

1 0 Reply
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Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Ohio / United States
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