Paul Laurence Dunbar:
(Dayton, 27 June 1872 – there, 9 February 1906).
American author.
October is the treasure of the year, and all the months pay bounty to her store.
When August days are hot and dry, I won’t sit by and sigh or die, I’ll get my bottle on the sly, and go ahead, and fish, and lie.
This line describes a speaker who, when summer days are hot and dry, ‘refuses to complain or “wait for bad luck.”’
Instead, they:
– ‘won’t just sigh and give up’
– ‘will secretly get the bottle’
– ‘will go fishing’
– and ‘will “lie”’ in the sense of ‘resting/relaxing or having leisure’, not (necessarily) telling falsehoods
Overall vibe:
‘practical, playful determination’
— endure summer by enjoying yourself rather than sulking.
🕵️ Origin 🧾:
The quotation you gave is commonly cited as being from Paul Laurence Dunbar, an important African American poet of the late 1800s/early 1900s.
That said, because Dunbar’s work has been printed in many collections (and some lines circulate online with slight spelling/word variations), the ‘exact’ source (which specific poem or publication) can depend on the version being quoted.
✍️ Author 👤:
– Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906)
– American poet and writer, known for:
– dialect writing (often using African American vernacular)
– humor, folk-life themes
– sharp social observation
🔎 Quick note on wording ✍️:
Lines like “get my bottle on the sly” and “fish, and lie” reflect a dialect/vernacular style typical of some Dunbar poems. In that context:
– “bottle” usually implies alcohol (or liquor)
– “on the sly” implies secretively/without asking permission
– “lie” most likely means ‘lie down/rest’, i.e., “take it easy” while fishing/leisure happens.
Oh it was sweet to think that May should be ours again, hoping it not, I shrink out of the sight of men.
