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Poem
September 24, 1899
The News & Observer
Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
A satirical poem in dialect critiquing the heated political debate over gold versus silver standards, emphasizing instead the pressing concerns of poverty, rising prices, and basic necessities like food and rent.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE REAL QUESTION.
Folks is talkin' 'bout de money. 'bout de silvah an' de gold;
All de time de season's changin' an' de days is gittin' cold.
An' dey's wond'rin' 'bout de metals, whether ah we'll have one er two,
While de price o' coal is risin' an' dey's two months' rent dat's due
Some folks say dat gold's de only money dat is wuff de name,
Den de othahs, rise an' tell 'em dat dey ought to be ashame
An' dat silvah is de only thing to save us f'om de powah
Of de gold-bug rangin' 'roun' an' seekin' who he may devowah.
Well, you folks kin keep on shoutin' wif yo' gold er silvah cry.
But I tell you people ham is sceerce an' fowls is roostin' high;
An' hit ain't de so't o' money dat is pesterin' my min'.
But de question I want answehed's how to get at any kin'!
-Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Folks is talkin' 'bout de money. 'bout de silvah an' de gold;
All de time de season's changin' an' de days is gittin' cold.
An' dey's wond'rin' 'bout de metals, whether ah we'll have one er two,
While de price o' coal is risin' an' dey's two months' rent dat's due
Some folks say dat gold's de only money dat is wuff de name,
Den de othahs, rise an' tell 'em dat dey ought to be ashame
An' dat silvah is de only thing to save us f'om de powah
Of de gold-bug rangin' 'roun' an' seekin' who he may devowah.
Well, you folks kin keep on shoutin' wif yo' gold er silvah cry.
But I tell you people ham is sceerce an' fowls is roostin' high;
An' hit ain't de so't o' money dat is pesterin' my min'.
But de question I want answehed's how to get at any kin'!
-Paul Laurence Dunbar.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Political
Satire Society
Commerce Trade
What keywords are associated?
Gold Silver Debate
Poverty
Dialect Verse
Monetary Policy
Everyday Struggles
What entities or persons were involved?
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Poem Details
Title
The Real Question.
Author
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains In Dialect
Key Lines
Well, You Folks Kin Keep On Shoutin' Wif Yo' Gold Er Silvah Cry.
But I Tell You People Ham Is Sceerce An' Fowls Is Roostin' High;
An' Hit Ain't De So't O' Money Dat Is Pesterin' My Min'.
But De Question I Want Answehed's How To Get At Any Kin'!