Joggin' Erlong
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
De da’kest hour, dey allus say,
Is des’ befo’ de dawn,
But it’s moughty ha’d a-waitin’
We’re de night goes frownin’ on:
An’ it’s moughty ha’d a-hopin’
W’en de clouds is big an’ black,
An’ all de t’ings you’s waited fu’
Has failed, er gone to wrack –
But des’ keep on a-joggin’ wid a little bit o’
song,
De mo’n is allus brightah we’n de night’s
been long.
Dey’s lots o’ knocks you’s got to tek
Befo’ yo’ journey s’ done,
An’ dey’s times w’en you’ll be wishin’
Dat de weary race was run;
W’en you want to give up tryin’
An’ des’ float erpon de wave,
W’en you don’t feel no mo’ sorer
Ez you t’ink erbout de grave –
Den, des’ keep on a-joggin’ wid a little bit o’
song,
De mo’n is allus brightah w’en de night’s
been long.
De whup-lash sting a good deal mo’
De back hit’s knowed befo’,
An’ de burden’s allus heavies’
Whaih hits weight had mad a so’;
Dey is times we’n tribulation
Seems to git de uppah han’
‘Twell he ain’t got stren’th to stan’–
But des’ keep on a-jogging’ wid a little bit o’
song,
De mo’n is allus brightah w’en de night’s
been long.
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