- Year Published: 1913
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: United States of America
- Source: Dunbar, P.L. (1913). The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. New York: Dodd, Mead, and Company.
- Flesch–Kincaid Level: 6.5
- Word Count: 220
Dunbar, P. (1913). Protest. Humour and Dialect (Lit2Go Edition). Retrieved December 10, 2019, from
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. "Protest." Humour and Dialect. Lit2Go Edition. 1913. Web. <>. December 10, 2019.
Paul Laurence Dunbar, "Protest," Humour and Dialect, Lit2Go Edition, (1913), accessed December 10, 2019,.
Who say my hea’t ain’t true to you?
Dey bettah heish dey mouf.
I knows I loves you thoo an’ thoo
In watah time er drouf.
I wush dese people ‘d stop dey talkin’,
Don’t mean no mo’ dan chicken’s squawkin’:
I guess I knows which way I’s walkin’,
I knows de norf f’om souf.
I does not love Elizy Brown,
I guess I knows my min’.
You allus try to tek me down
Wid evaht’ing you fin’.
Ef dese hyeah folks will keep on fillin’
Yo’ haid wid nonsense, an’ you’s willin’
I bet some day dey ‘ll be a killin’
Somewhaih along de line.
O’ cose I buys de gal ice–cream,
Whut else I gwine to do?
I knows jes’ how de t’ing ‘u’d seem
Ef I ‘d be sho’t wid you.
On Sunday, you’s at chu’ch a–shoutin’,
Den all de week you go ‘roun’ poutin’—
I’s mighty tiahed o’ all dis doubtin’,
I tell you cause I’s true.