The Photograph

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See dis pictyah in my han'?
  Dat's my gal;
  Ain't she purty? goodness lan'!
  Huh name Sal.
  Dat's de very way she be--
  Kin' o' tickles me to see
  Huh a-smilin' back at me.

  She sont me dis photygraph
  Jes' las' week;
  An' aldough hit made me laugh--
  My black cheek
  Felt somethin' a-runnin' queer;
  Bless yo' soul, it was a tear
  Jes' f'om wishin' she was here.

  Often when I 's all alone
  Layin' here,
  I git t'inkin' 'bout my own
  Sallie dear;
  How she say dat I 's huh beau,
  An' hit tickles me to know
  Dat de gal do love me so.

  Some bright day I 's goin' back,
  Fo' de la!
  An' ez sho' 's my face is black,
  Ax huh pa
  Fu' de blessed little miss
  Who 's a-smilin' out o dis
  Pictyah, lak she wan'ed a kiss!

© Paul Laurence Dunbar