Chapter I: Hain’t Foolin’ Honey

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Seed yo’ wid yo’ gal las’ night!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!
Had yo’ arms eroun’ her tight!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!
Umph! whut made yo’ squeeze her so?
Jes’ bekaze yo’ am her beau?
I’d bin her I’d let yo’ go!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!

Seed yo’ try to steal er kiss!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!
An’ she slapp’d yo’ wid her fis’!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!
Po’ gal kooden’ hardly speak!
Shocked to def wid all yo’ cheek!
Go way, Gumbo, yo’s er sneak!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!

Yallah, too, hain’t she Gumbo?
I hain’t foolin’, honey!
Reason dat yo’ love her so!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!
Ef she had de wooly hyah,
Face ez black ez ol’ pine tah!
Court her? bet yo’ wooden’, dah!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!

Gwine to marry her, Gumbo?
Stop yo’ foolin’, honey!
What dat? say yo’ doesn’t kno’?
Stop yo’ foolin’, honey!
Ax’d her fo’ her hea’t an’ han’?
Bet yo’ habben’ got de san’!
’Fess up, Gumbo, umph! mah lan’!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!

Bet she hain’t stuck on yo’ ’tall!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!
Does she kiss yo’ when yo’ call?
Stop yo’ foolin’, honey!
Lan’ sakes, Gumbo, yo’ woan’ do!
Go ’way; no, I woan’ kiss yo’!
Git yo’ big foots off mah shoe!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!

I doan’ kiss no rusty coon!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!
Who, yo’ be mah chaperoon?
Hain’t you foolin’, honey?
Pick mah comp’ny, whut I do!
Lawd sakes, knows I doan’ want yo’!
Good day, home Ise long go due!
I hain’t foolin’, honey!

SLEEP.

Sleep!
Cums de solemn night,
An’ de day’s tuck flight!
Not er bird ner coon
Am er whis-lin’ choon.
Sleep!

Sleep!
Slo’ de hours slip ’long
To de brooklet’s song,
In de sof deep hush
Cums de star’s sweet blush.
Sleep!

Sleep!
In er lonesum tone
Ez he creep erlone,
Cums de cricket call
Fum de vine clad wall.
Sleep!

Sleep!
Up de hillside steep
Now de moon take creep!
Th’ew de cab’n loft, gleam
On er coon in dream.
Sleep!

A PROFUSE ENCOMIUM.

Lookin’ nice to-night, Miss Liza,
Yo’s out dressed ’em all to-night.
Wid dat ah so frusterkaytun
Yo’ so dazzlin’ in de light!
Please doan’ ’strew mah wurds fo flattah
Spoken incandessenly,
But! wid mutuallistic frankness
’Cep ’em fabbrykayshenly.

“Thank you, Mistah Johnsin’,
Do yo’ think I look so fine?
’Deed sah, Mistah Johnsin’,
Yo’ so asterroshus kine.
Woan’ yo’ sot beside me
An’ conversykate er while,
Please doan’ hab no skooples
Kaze Ize togged up in dis style.”

“Yo’s suppassed yo’se’f, Miss Liza,
Quiv-vah-kay-shah-ently gran’,
An’ yo’ grace dis runkshus ’kayshun
Lak one fum de glory lan’.
Ef yo’ hab no interjeckshuns
Kaze sech ’joicin’ frollerkayshun
Gibbs fellerisher-tish-shus glee.”

“’Skyoose me, Mistah Johnsin’,
I doan’ kyah to mingel late,
I wood raddah be specktay-shus
Sotin’ hyeah wid Mistah Gate.
Not dat I doan’ d’ sah yo’ tenshun
An’ doan’ preeshee-ate yo’ ’’ques’,
I prefer tran-quil-ler-kayshun
Sotin’ lookin’ at de res’.”

“’Cep’ mah ’pology, Miss Liza,
Fo’ mah troo-ser-tay-shus ’ques’.
I jes ax’d yo’ fo’ politeness,
Tho’t yo’d lak to jine de res’.”
“’Tain’t er bit o’ trooshun,
Mistah Johnsin’, not at tall!
I may grant yo’ axin’
When we ’ten’ sum uddah ball.”

PEEPIN’ TH’EW DE HUSK.

Dahky, doan’ worry,
Kaze de wintah’s dun gone!
Craps am all er sproutin’
Soon we’ll hab de sugah co’n!
Den we’ll roas’ an’ stew it
An’ we’ll fry it in de pan,
Th’ow de buttah on it
Nufin’ fineah in de lan’!

Hain’t er gwine to worry,
Needah make er bit o’ fuss!
Kaze de sugah co’n
Will soon be peepin’ th’ew de huss!

See de wattah milluns
How dey’s cumin’ on de vine!
Lawd er mussy, chillun,
Puts yo’ teef erpun de grine!
Mussen’ think er bout ’em,
Gits mah stummuck all er jump!
Hea’t er fas’ah beatin’
An’ er thumpin’! thump! thump!

Hain’t er gwine to worry,
Needah make er bit o’ fuss!
Kaze de sugah co’n
Will soon be peepin’ th’ew de huss!

When de wattah milluns
Git kervellopd on de vine,
Winkin’, peepin’ at yo’,
How er dahky’s eyes shine!
An’ yo’ buss’ ’em open
An’ yo’ see de blushin’ red,
Haben’ got er minute
Fo’ de bressins to be said!

Hain’t er gwine to worry,
Needah make er bit o’ fuss!
Kaze de sugah co’n
Will soon be peepin’ th’ew de huss!

Sun ’er creepin’ higher,
Am ’er gittin’ pow’ful hot!
Hoein’ an’ er weedin’
Am er dahky’s tufes’ lot!
To de hoe er stickin’
Till yo’ back jes’ ache an’ ache,
Sun er pohin’ on yo’
Makes er dahky nahly bake!

Hain’t er gwine to worry,
Needah make er bit o’ fuss!
Kaze de sugah co’n
Will soon be peepin’ th’ew de huss!

Mo’ yo’ keeps er hoein’
Fas’ah seems to gro’ de grass!
Dahky gits to thinkin’
Hoein’ time will ebbah las’!
Weedin’ an’ er hoein’
Ef er dahky was to stop,
Sho’ ez am de gospel
Wooden’ git er bit o’ crop!

Hain’t er gwine to worry,
Needah make er bit o’ fuss!
Kaze de sugah co’n
Will soon be peepin’ th’ew de huss!

AXIN’, COON? CUM OBEAH.

Meadows lak er feddah bed,
Sproutin’ cloveah white an’ red,
Sof’ ez pillahs to de tread,
Axin’, coon? Cum obeah!

Milluns loafin’ in de grass,
Flirtin’ when er coon cum pass,
When er look he dat way cas’,
Axin’, coon? Cum obeah!

Cabbage loafin’ ’roun’ de stump,
Lookin’ sassy fat an’ plump,
Swellin’ up all in er bump,
Axin’, coon? Cum obeah!

Coon er wockin’ at de co’n,
Doh dat’s all fo’ what he’s born,
Wockin, night and’ wockin’ morn,
Hain’t got time cum obeah!

HUSTLE.

Doan’ lag an’ fool
Erlong de way—
Hus’el!
Doan’ ’spec’ to do
All in er day—
Hus’el!
Things will cum
Out by an’ by,
Musen’ stop
To stew an’ sigh.
Den’s when success
May be nigh—
Hus’el!

Take no time
Fo’ lookin’ back—
Hus’el!
T’ see whose cumin’
On de track—
Hus’el!
Ebbry time
Yo’s losin’ groun’,
Time yo’ take
Fo’ gawkin ’roun’.
Ef yo’ ’spec’
To git er crown—
Hus’el!

Ef yo’ ’spec’
Er good co’n crop—
Hus’el!
Nebah git it
Ef yo’ stop—
Hus’el!
Ef yo’ ’spec’
De corn to gro’
Full co’n stawks
In ebbry ro’,
Doan’ be skaid
To use de hoe—
Hus’el!

Take no time
To argufy—
Hus’el!
T’ make sum fellah
Out er lie—
Hus’el!
Ha’f de time
Yo’s losin’ win’,
Same time doin’
Er little sin.
Aftah all
Yo’ nuffin in—
Hus’el!

GO SLEEP.

Go sleep, li’l’ pickahninny!
Go sleep!
De boogahman koch yo’
Ef yo’ peep!
Go sleep!
He prowlin’ ’roun’
Sof’ ez er cat—
He kno’ whah
Li’l’ pickahninny’s at—
Go sleep!

Go sleep, li’l’ pickahninny!
Go sleep!
Still ez er mouse
When creepin’ keep—
Go sleep!
De boogahman
Am moighty peert!
He sly ol’ fox
Dat’s on de ’lert!
Go sleep!

Go sleep, li’l’ pickahninny!
Go sleep!
I hyeah de boogahman
Creep, creep creep!
Go sleep!
He kotch er hol’
An’ shake de do’—
An’ ope his mouf
An’ said wo’, wo’!
Go sleep!

KAZE DE SUN AM SINKIN’.

Droopy, droopy, am de flow’rs,
Petals closed an’ shrinkin’,
Gone er sleepin’ an’ er doze—
Kaze de sun am sinkin’!
All de day er lookin’ gran’
An’ er ’fumein’ up de lan’,
Baskin’ now in slumbah’s stran’—
Kaze de sun am sinkin’!

Droopy, droopy, am de flow’rs,
Petals closed an’ shrinkin’
Peepahs shet an’ fas’ ersleep,
Kaze de sun am sinkin’!
Crystal brooklet glidin’ ’long
Chants to dem er cradle song,
Res’ an’ slumbah, weary throng—
Kaze de sun am sinkin’!

Droopy, droopy am de flow’rs,
Petals closed an’ shrinkin’,
Lull’d ersleep in fairy realm,
Kaze de sun am sinkin’!
All dey tinsels tints an’ hue
Dat attracts de bees an’ woo,
Closed dey now am all to view—
Kaze de sun am sinkin’!

Droopy, droopy, am de flow’rs,
Petals closed an’ shrinkin’!
Soon will wake wid birds an’ bees,
When de sun’s dun sinkin’!
When de sunlight mounts to view,
At de tech o’ mornin’s dew
Once mo’ will dey ope to view—
Kaze de sun’s dun sinkin’!

SOFT FALLS THE NIGHT.

This Poem is dedicated to MISS ANNA HALL SMITH.

Soft falls the night—
And chases ’way
The slowly dying
Summer day.
The sun from his
Ethereal height,
Is curtained by
The shades of night.

Soft falls the night—
The birds that tune
Their song with nature
In commune
Now hush their lays
Seek silent rest,
Within their downy
Leafy nests.

Soft falls the night—
Sweet peace divine
In each heart comes
To be enshrined,
While angels pause
On earth to show’r
The blessings of
The sovereign pow’r.

Soft falls the night—
A peaceful sleep
O’er earthly mortals
Doth now creep.
They rest now from
Their day’s pursuit—
The world is still,
The world is mute.

Soft falls the night—
The verdure green
Now glistens with
A dewy sheen.
The flowers droop,
Their petals close,
They dream away
In sweet repose.

Soft fades the night—
Lo! breaks the dawn,
And nature ’wakens
With the morn,
Exultingly
Sends up her lays,
Her symphonies,
To God in praise.

GIT ON BOARD, CHILLUN.

De Gospel train am er scootin’ down de rail!
Git on board, chillun!
Fas’ah den er ship wid er ruddah an’ er sail!
Git on board, chillun!
De Lawd in heaben am de steam an’ de pow’r!
He run dat train forty millun miles an’ hour!
Jes’ es stroke ub de throttle
Sends her clah to heaben’s tow’r!
Git on board, chillun!

No sinnah tribe kin ebbah ride on dat train!
Git on board, chillun!
De debil ner his imps ef day’s cut loose fum dey chain!
Git on board, chillun!
None but de lams ub de good Lawd’s fol’
Kin ride dat train to de streets o’ gol’,
Wid de ’liggun lak an’ ocean obeahflowin’ in yo’ soul!
Git on board, chillun!

She’s jes’ lak lightnin’ an’ de quibbah o’ de eye!
Git on board, chillun!
Ez she’s puffin’ an’ er steamin’ in er trabblin’ to de sky!
Git on board, chillun!
She’s limited, too, an’ she goes clah th’ew!
She’s got no time fo’ to fool wid yo’!
Yo’ mus’ git on board, when de time cums, doo!
Git on board, chillun!

Dat train hain’t skeddul fo’ de secun’ time.
Git on board, chillun!
Fo’ to cum an’ fotch yo’ to de heabenly clime!
Git on board, chillun!
She goes straight on an’ she doan’ tarn back!
When she once git start why she hain’t gwine to slack!
Till she runs in heab’n on de right side track!
Git on board, chillun!

De debil ner his imps kaint wreck dat ol’ train!
Git on board, chillun!
Ez she’s dashin’ an’ er steamin’ o’er de mountains an’ de plain!
Git on board, chillun!
She sticks to de rail lak de hyah on yo’ back!
An’ she nebbah was known fo’ to jump fum de track!
Kaze de Lawd’s at de throttle an’ he sho’ got de knac’!
Git on board, chillun!

UNCLE NED AN’ DE MOCKIN’ BIRD.

Bruddah Mocking Bird,
Yo’s moighty lazy.
Yo’ doan’ do nufin’
But sing dat song,
Till de daylight’s gone
An’ de night cum ’long.
Er coon has got to hoe an’ hoe,
Till de sinkin’ sun
Tells de day to go.

Lawd, but yo’ sing
So pow’ful sweet!
Perched up dah,
In yo’ leafy seat.
Is yo’ lonesum?
Does yo’ hea’t feel sad?
’Pears to me
Dat yo’ soul feels glad.

Ez Ise wockin’ hard,
Sweet ez de cloveah
Yo’ song
Floats obeah,
Way in de co’nfield
Whah de medlark sings,
Up in de bough
Ub de tree it clings.

Yo’ nebah wock
But yo’ bread is sho’,
Out in de yahd;
’Fo’ ebbry do’,
Sum kine han’
Th’ows de little crum!
Kaze dey kno’ fo’ sho’
Dat yo’ boun’ to cum.

De good Samaritan
Part dey play.
Let yo’ go ’way?
Hungry? No!
Dey nebah wood,
Kase de Lawd wood say
Dat dey wasn’t good.

I kinedah lak
To hyeah yo’ sing,
Ef yo’ is too lazy
To flop yo’ wing,
Sing on,
Fill de worl’ wid song.
I mus’ be gittin’
Mah wock er long.

PO’ LI’L’ RASTUS.

Little Rastus feelin’ blue—
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!
Out o’ sorts an’ gloomy, too!
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!
Broke his little hobby hoss.
Makes de little fellah cross.
Doan’ cry, honey, ’tain’ much loss.
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!

He jes’ wo’ out, rompin’ ’roun’,
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!
Git up, honey, fum de groun’.
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!
Look ee dah, dun spiled yo’ dress,
An’ it am yo’ Sunday bes’,
Now hain’t yo’ er poody mess!
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!

Whut dat stickin’ on yo’ han’?
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!
Yo’ bin in de ’lasses can.
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!
Whut dat whut de Bible say
’Bout de chile dat steal dat ’way?
He’ll go whah de bad man stay!
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!

Dat ol’ bad man am er sight.
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!
Cum er sneakin’ ’roun’ at night.
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!
Cum an’ koch yo’ when yo’ sleep,
Den he take er great big leap!
Down er hol’ dat’s way down deep!
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!

Cum hyeah, little wooly head.
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!
Gwine to tuck yo’ way to bed.
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!
Look ee dah, de day dun gone!
Shaddahs streamin’ th’ew de co’n,
Sleep until de sunlight dawn!
Po’ li’l’ Rastus!

SAMBO’S RAIN PHILOSOPHY.

Whut’s de use o’ raisin’
’Bout de weddah, cain?
Kase dey’s wid de sunshine
Mixed in clouds an’ rain;
Jes’ ez well be lafin’,
’Joicin’ in yo’ soul.
Frettin’ an’ er stewin’
Makes yo’ gray an’ ol’.

Mussen’ ’spec’ to allus
Git things jes’ yo’ way.
Keep yo’ eye kock’d open
On er beddah day.
Learn to ’cep’ de weddah
Ez de Lawd control,
In time will be shinin’
Sunshine bright an’ gold.

Lawd am boun’ to sen’ de
Changes now an’ den,
Kaze He knows whut’s beddah
Fo’ yo’ in de en’.
Fus’ He sends de sunshine,
Nex’ He sends de rain,
To gibb life an’ viggah
To de gol’en grain.

It’s de rainy weddah,
Buds de flowahs out,
Makes de wattahmilluns
An’ de ’tayters sprout;
It’s de rainy weddah
Makes de fahmahs shout;
Drives erway de famine,
Drives erway de drout.

JES’ KEEP ER LOOKIN’ UP.

Ef yo’ fren’s dey all fo’sake yo’,
Think yo’ gwine flat to de wall,
Salt an’ peppah nebbah’ll save yo’
Fum an ebbah las’in’ fall.

Ef yo’ got de right stuff in yo’,
You’ll keep allus lookin’ up,
’Membrin’ sum de worl’s bes’ jewels
Drunk fum dis same bittah cup!
Ef yo’ habben’ got er dollah,
An’ no place to lay yo’ head,
An’ de meadows an’ de co’n fields
Only places fo’ yo’ bed;

Ef de fo’ks am cuttin’ capeahs
’Fo’ yo’ puttin’ on dey airs,
Wid dey silks an’ wid dey satins,
An’ all uddah kine o’ wares.

Ef yo’ got de right stuff in yo’,
Yo’ll keep allus lookin up,
’Membrin’ sum de worl’s bes’ jewels
Drunk fum dis same bittah cup!
Dey may tramp erpun yo’ feelin’s,
Dey may kick yo’ on de co’n,
An’ may tarn dey nose up at yo’
Ez dey pass yo’ in dey scorn;

Smiles dey nebbah may hab fo’ yo’,
Bes’ yo’ll git will be er frown,
An’ sum wurds mos’ harshly spoken,
Kaze dey think dat yo’ is down.

Ef yo’ got de right stuff in yo’,
Yo’ll keep allus lookin’ up,
’Membrin’ sum de worl’s bes’ jewels
Drunk fum dis same bittah cup!
Ef fo’ bread yo’ ax er bruddah,
An’ instead yo’ git er stone,
An’ yo’ ax fo’ consullayshun,
An’ yo’ bahly git er groan,

An’ sum knock yo’ off yo’ shins,
An’ think yo’ nebah gwine to rise,
Swah to God dey nebbah dun it,
Meekly tell all kine o’ lies;
Let ’em go on hykerflootin’,
Ebbry dog sho’ habs his day;
Dey am uddah months, mah bruddah,
Jes’ es pleasant, ez am May.

Ef yo’ got de right stuff in yo’,
Yo’ll keep allus lookin’ up,
’Membrin’ sum de worl’s bes’ jewels
Drunk fum dis same bittah cup!

WISHED I’D RODE MAH HOSS.

Rode on dat ah ’lectric kyah!
Wished I’d rode mah hoss!
No musstake it raised mah hyah!
Oddah bin er long!
Nebbah seed sech runnin’ son!
Swo’ we’s flyin’ to de sun!
Tho’t dis dahky’s days was dun!
Wished I’d rode mah hoss!

Gee! dat thing did split de ah!
Wished I’d rode mah hoss!
Nuffin’ wid it kin compah!
Oddah bin er long!
Ebbry thing wuz blurred in sight!
Dus’ flew higher den er kite!
Kooden’ tell de lef’ fum right!
Wished I’d rode mah hoss!

When she struck eroun’ de kyerve,
Wished I’d rode mah hoss!
It unstrung mah ebbry nerve!
Oh, but I did squirm!
Oh, she kyahd us down de line!
No hobo kood stuck behine!
Ef he had he’d gone stone bline!
Wished I’d rode mah hoss!

Now an’ den she sortah reel!
Wished I’d rode mah hoss!
Stirred me up fum head to heel!
Lawd but I did quake!
Tawk erbout er pow’ful prah!
I sho’ made one den an’ dah!
Strain was mo’ den I kood bah!
Wished I’d rode mah hoss!

Once I hyeahd er moighty crack!
Wished I’d rode mah hoss!
Tho’t she’s gwine to leeb de track,
Oddah seed me, Chile!
I felt mos’ prekareyus, son!
I hain’t tawkin’ jes’ fo’ fun!
Tho’t dis dahky’s days was dun,
Wished I’d rode mah hoss!

EGGS! EGGS!! EGGS!!!

When I ’fleck o’ Eastah cum,
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!
Gits mah whol’ soul all er hum.
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!
When de chickens flopp dey wings,
Roostah cro’, de pullets sings,
Gib me ’bove all uddah things—
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!

When de little chicks er creep,
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!
Run kerfrolic peep! peep! peep!!
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!
Appetite gits sort impressed,
Wood go good, roas’ chicken breas’,
Still goes beddah, nebahless.
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!

When eroun’ de ol’ fiah place
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!
Eggs look yo’ squah in de face,
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!
Git ’em fryin’ in de pan,
Soun’ lak music o’ de ban’,
Chillun? Whee! But hain’t dey gran’.
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!

Eat ’em poach ’er eat ’em bile,
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!
Make yo’ hit yo’ granny, chile.
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!
When yo’ eat ’em scramble, son,
Feel dat yo’ kood lif er ton,
Er brack bar yo’ kood out run.
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!!

IT AM DE POSSUM TIME.

Weddah gittin’ chilly,
Fros’ er fallin’ on de vine!
Leaves er tarnin’ yallah,
Now de possum time is fine!

Hickahnuts er fallin’,
Wid er thud, thud, thudd!
Poppin’ an’ er crackin’
An’ er bus’in out de bud!

It am de possum time!
Yes, it am de possum time!
It am de time er niggah
Fo’ de coon to go to clime!

Crickets all er hollah
Tell er niggah it’s de fall!
Ripenin’ am de ’simmons
Fo’ de great an’ fo’ de small!
Niggah jes’ er waitin’
Fo’ de fallin’ o’ de sno’,
Fo’ to chase de rabbit
Ez he’s wingin’ on de go!

It am de possum time!
Yes, it am de possum time!
It am de time er niggah
Fo’ de coon to go to clime!

When de sun’s dun sinkin’
Cums de shinin’ o’ de moon,
Niggah’ll take de wahpaf
Fo’ to go to tree de coon!
Wid de dogs er bahkin’
All er chasein’, all er romp!
Sniffin’ at de grasses
An’ er scratchin’ at de stump!

It am de possum time!
Yes, it am de possum time!
It am de time er niggah
Fo’ de coon to go to clime!

STICK TO YOUR RACE!

Umph! how some cullahd fo’ks wan’ to be white.
Bekaze dey am brack dey doan’ nebah seem right.
Dey’s shame ub dey cullah; dey’s shame ub dey race;
Dat’s why dey wood lak to be white in de face.

Bekaze dey kain’t bleech out, O, how dey deplore,
Fo’ to be cullahd to dem’s sech er bore.
To think de Lawd sent dem all into dis lan’
Wif hyah dat am kinky an’ faces dat’s tan.

Fus’ to de lef an’ den nex’ to de right,
Dey look to see if dey am sumfin’ in sight
To make dem bleech white, gib dem cheeks ub de rose
An’ sumfin’ to gib dem a high Roman noze.

Dey’s kickin’ an fussin’ an’ raisin turmoil
Bekaze dey kain’t git hol’ de right kine ub oil
To take way de kinky effect dey kaint bah,
An’ make it jes’ lak de white folk’s auburn hyah.

Dey use mutton sooit an’ tallow, an’ lard,
Oh Lward er Mussy! but don’t dey try hard!
To make it look wabey an’ glossy an’ slick.
Den paht in de middle dey am right to de quick.
Ef dey hain’t no hope, why dey go git a wig.
It mus’ be made fum white fok’s hyah, too, by jig.
Umph; who; Miss Sukie? why she wooden’ dah
To wah a wig made fum a coon’s nappy hyah.

Whut’s de use er kickin’
Bekaze o’ sech rot?
Bekaze yo’ kain’t bleech,
An’ turn white on de spot!

Ef yo’ hyah’s kinky,
Yo’s brack ez de tar,
Thank de good Lawd
Dat yo’s jes’ lak yo’ are.

MEMORIAL DAY.

To sound of muffled drums to-day,
With slow and solemn tread;
The soldiers march with banners draped
Where dwell heroic dead.

The blue, the gray of this fair realm
Assemble o’er this land,
Recount the deeds of valiant men
As one vast mourning band.

The rich, the poor, the high, the low,
Observe this sacred day.
For all alike in days gone by
Have laid some friend away.
For death the mighty reaper comes
To rich as well as poor.
Unwelcome guest though he may be,
He comes to every door.

To deck the graves of dear loved ones
Beneath luxuriant bow’rs,
Countless willing loving hands
Pluck nature’s tender flow’rs.
The tokens of a reverent love
For friends of that blest vale,
A love the ravages of time
Can never change nor pale.

This day recalls much of the past—
The nation’s bloody wars,
The sacrifice of noble lives—
To make dominant the stripes and stars.
In philosophic narrative,
In eulogy and praise,
In honor of heroic dead
The speaker’s voice doth raise.

And for the country’s honor fought
The black man once a slave.
Encouched within the history’s folds
The statement, “he was brave!”
Within the marching ranks to-day
Are remnants of the freed
Who fought and bled upon the field
When ’twas the country’s need.

TRUSSY’S VISIT.

Bress mah life! why, dis hain’t Trussey?
Go ’way Chile! whut dat yo’ say?
Yo’ hain’t fiddlin’ Peedah’s sonny—
Who’d er tho’t it, any way!

Ax me ef I knowed yo’ daddy—
Knowed each uddah yeahs ergo.
Me an’ him hab bof togeddah,
Hoed er many ’taytah ro’.

Res’ yo’ duddin’s! take de sofa,
Make yo’se’f jes’ lak yo’ home.
’Cep’ mos’ free mah hooskerpalty,
Plenty time eroun’ to roam.

See, hyeah, Dina, am dem chittlins
An’ dem hog feet th’ew er bile?
Who yo’ think we got fo’ dinnah?
Ol’ fren’ Fiddlin’ Peedah’s chile!

Well, sah, I hain’t seed yo’ daddy
Since dat fight at Possum Trot.
Dog mah socks, we bof togeddah,
Whoop’d de debbil on de spot!

Still er libbin’ down in Guinea?
Why, dat’s my ol’ rompin’ groun’.
Hain’t er spot, ner nook, ner crebbice
Dat I doan’ know ’bout dat town.

Ready, Dinah? Bress de Lawd! umph!
Mah ol’ lady am er sight.
Kin she cook? Whut? Doan’ yo’ staht me!
She kin sho’ put things up right!

Walk out, Trussy; go pertaykin’
Ub de bes’ de ol’ man’s got!
Kose tain’t much, but prob’ly sumfin’s
Dah will kinedah tech de spot!

Go ’head, say de bressins, Trussy,
Fo’ de Lawd sakes cut ’em short.
Lemme pos’ yo’ fo’ yo’ staht in,
Doan’ yo’ preach an’ try to e’ort—

“Make us thankful, Heab’nly Faddah,
Fo’ dis hyeah pussipyus spread;
Hyeah deez few mos’ feeble ’spreshyuns
Dat yo’ umble sahvunt shed.

“Gibb us wid ah daily bread, sah!
Chicken, an’ all sech ez dat!
Th’ow in now an’ den er possum,
Coon wid plenty lean an’ fat!

“Po’ dy bressins on dis family—
Put mo’ chickens on dey roos’;
Things git skace, dey needs er he’pin’,
Len’ er ban’, gibb ’em er boos’.”

Jump in, Trussy; git to business!
Ebbry fellah fo’ himse’f.
Whut’s hyeah fo’ us on dis table’s
Nuf to take er possum’s bref.

Ha! ha! Trussy, dem ol’ hog feet
Sots dis ol’ soul all er chune!
Ha! ha! Dina? look at Trussy
Kock dat lef’ eye at dat coon!

Yo’ hain’t full kin to yo’ daddy
Ef yo’ doesn’t lak de coon;
Possum, chicken, sweepahtaytahs.
An’ de sumpshus musherroon.

Tell us ’bout ol’ Tootsy Tadpole.
Slipshod Beebe, Feeby Scott!
Susan Rhinehole. Sukie Slowup,
Husky Botts, de res’ de lot.

Does I ’membah Slimmy Twostep?
Who? dat dah ol’ onry cuss?
Usetah hug de stove when happy,
In church raised all kine o’ fuss?

Gibb him mo’ coon dumplin’s, Dina!
Sakes! he’s jes’ fell into eat.
Tote him few dem frizzlin’ passnups,
Lecktrifies yo’ to yo’ feet!

Whah’s ol’ Susan Peecock, Trussy?
Is de debbil got her yet?
Sakes o’ lie! she’s got mo’ husban’s
Den yo’s fingers got, I’ll bet!

Cum on wid dem pig tails, Dina!
Doan’ be primpin’ in de glass!
Mussen’ make de ol’ man wait so,
Yo’ look poody nuf to pass.

Bress de Lawd! whee! glory! glory!
No joke, dem am sizzlin’ hot!
Lissen at de res’ dem fellahs
Prayin’ an’ singin’ in de pot!

Go ’way, Fido! see hyeah, Dina!
Kick dat debbil out de do’!
Ebbry time he sniffs dem chittlins
He’s er hangin’ ’roun’ hyeah, sho’.

See hyeah, chile! yo’ hain’t th’ew eatin’,
Rake mo’ dumplin’s on yo’ plate!
Go dem flapp jacks, sum dat grabey,
Eat ’long in de mopein’ gait.

Pass de ol’ man few dem biskits;
B’lieve I’ll take sum poke chops, too!
Little mo’ dat drap down coffee,
Nuddah dose dat bullyun stew.

Go on in de pollah, Trussy,
Ef yo’ got ernuf to eat.
I’ll be th’ew in jes’ er minute,
Den we’ll go an’ thrash sum wheat.

IS YO’ LONESUM, HONEY?

Ez de twilight fall,
An’ de koo-koo call,
An’ yo’ doan’ hyeah ’tall
Dis hyeah coon’s foot fall,
Is yo’ lonesum, Honey?

Ez de moon creep high,
In de starlit sky,
An’ yo’ sot an’ sigh,
Kaze I doan’ cum nigh,
Is yo’ lonesum, Honey?

Ez de night creep on,
Till de sun brings dawn,
Ez yo’ wake an’ yawn
In de cool ob de morn,
Still, yo’ lonesum, honey?

LARN TO HE’P YO’SE’F.

Bruddah Dahky, ef yo’d win,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Mussen’ stop fo’ knocks on shin,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Stop yo’ whinin’, try an’ try,
Take no time to weep an’ sigh.
Dah’s whahin’ yo’ success lie.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.

Yo’ mus’ fus’ prove yo’s er man.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Try’n to ’skewt sum noble plan,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Oh, de white fo’ks knows yo’s brave,
Fo’ dis freedom lan’ to save,
Dat yo’ fit on lan’ an’ wave.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.

All de white fo’ks hain’t yo’ foe.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Dey will gibb yo’ plenty, sho’.
Ef yo’ he’p yo’se’f.
All er long dey’s bin mos’ kine,
He’p’d yo’ ’long er many line,
Is to all dis yo’ stone bline?
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.

Dah’s Abe Linkum, Phillips, too,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Bet yo’ life dey fit fo’ yo’.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Thousands mo’ dat I kood name,
’Mong dem, men o’ nashnul fame,
Fo’ yo’ dahky dun de same.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.

Sum de white fo’ks moighty mean,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Likewise sum de brack fo’ks seem
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Ebbry race got p’culiar way,
Guess it all goes in de play;
Live in hopes dey’ll change sum day.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.

Yo’ kin shout an’ yo’ kin sing.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Think yo’s ’neef de mahstah’s wing.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
But yo’ll nebah git er crown
Ef yo’ sot an’ fool eroun’,
Dis am Gospul true an’ soun’.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.

Dahky, stop dat little song—
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Gimme Jesus, take worl’ ’long,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
T ry to grip sum o’ dis lan’,
Den yo’ll feel mo’ lak er man;
Yo’ am boun’ to git sum san’,
Ef yo’ he’p yo’se’f.

COURTIN’ O’ DE PHONE.

Jingahling! jingahling!
When er sotin’ lone,
Yo’ kin call yo’ honey—
Go to courtin’ o’ de phone.
Drives erway de shaddahs,
Makes yo’ quit yo’ fret an’ stew,
Fills yo’ soul wid sunshine,
Opens up yo’ hea’t ernew.

Jingahling! jingahling!
Dis yo’, Liza Jane?
“Yes, dis am yo’ honey,”
Cums de sweet an’ sof’en ’frain.
Den yo’ go to pohin’
In her ear de words o’ love:
Tickles her to def,
An’ makes her think she am er dove.

Jingahling! jingahling!
When yo’ hyeah her say:
“Honey, when yo’ gone it’s
Allus night an’ nebbah day,”
’Pears dat while dey’s fallin’
In yo’ ear, dat lovin’ tone,
Yo’ kin see yo’ honey
Standin’ dah befo’ de phone.

Jingahling! jingahling!
Sweetah grows de tone.
Makes er niggah neerly
Ram his head clah th’ew de phone.
Kaze dem sugah wurds
Dey sho’ly make yo’ hea’t inspah—
’Lecktrifies yo’ spirit,
Sots yo’ whol’ soul all er fiah!

Jingahling! jingahling!
When de day is dun,
You no mo’ kin see de
Blazin’, dazzlin’, sinkin’ sun,
How yo’ lub to ’membah
’Bout yo’ courtin’ o’ de phone,
Ez yo’ muse an’ pondah
In yo’ cabin all er lone!

LONESUM VALLEY CHRISTMUS TREE.

Bes’ ub all de Chrismus ’tainmunts
Dat I axshly ebbah seed,
Was de one at Lonesum Valley
At de church ub Pawsun Weed.

All de ol’ fo’ks an’ de chillun
Dress purraded out dat night,
To de graid big Chrismus ’tainmun’
Fo’ to git dey Chrismus mite.

When dey’s geddahd in dat chapel,
Bruddah.—? Dey was thick ez hops,
When de chillun seed de candy,
Smack’d dey moufs an’ lick’d dey chops.

Dey was He, He, an’ er lafin’
An’ er clappin’ o’ dey han’s,
An’ dey jaws jes’ kep’ er crackin’,
Lak de chittlins in de pans.

An’ de ol’ fo’ks tell yo’ honey,
Sah I bleeb dey was de wuss.
Dey’s so ankshus fo’ dey ’freshmun’s
Dey’s mos’ reddy fo’ to bus’.

Preechah Weed wid dat dah swallow
Tail an’ ves’ ub his cut low,
Jes’ had all de flouncin’ sistahs
Leggin’ fo’ to be his boh.

Bruddah Hookey he puzzided;
Felt so big he thowt he’s king;
Tuck er ball bat, rapp’d fo’ ordah,
Said, let’s cleah ah th’oats an’ sing.

Well, he tuck his pussnel meedah,
Gib de linin’ ub de hymn,
An’ dey sing’d de “Weepin’ Moses”
An’ dey sing’d it too, by Jim!

At de klooshun ub dat ditty,
Deekun Jaspah put up prah,
Th’ow’d his haid clah to de ceilin’
Dough he seed de Gates er jah.

Dis hain’t true, I’ll eat de ’possum,
Sech er prah yo’ nebbah hyea’d;
Scratch’d his haid an’ weep’d an’ hollahd
Tell his eyes lak blud was red.

Oh, he’s moanin’ and er tonein’
An’ er kotchen’ ub his bref—
Spit erpun his han’s an’ rubb’d em—
Pound de bench fum right to lef’.

Las’ he ’klooded an’ de sistahs
Staht to sing plantashun coon.
Bruddah Hookey diden’ lak it;
Tol’ ’em dey was mos’ too soon.

But de mos’ fun ub de evenin’
Was when gibbin’ presen’s out.
Yo’d er crack’d yo’ sides er lafin’
Tell yo’d got er hol’ de gout.

On de tree dey was er chicken;
Wasn’t laybeld wid er name.
When de dahkies hyeahd erbout it
Ebbry one put up er claim.

Bruddah Gyahdnah spied de chicken
Floppin’ ’neef de Chrismus tree;
Made er home run wid er hollah;
“Dat dah chicken am fo’ me!”

Well, sah, when he hollah’d chicken
’Twas de same ez holl’rin fiah,
Fo’ dat chicken was er stampeed
In de church an’ in de quah.

Sum de sistahs dat had room’ticks
An’ de aches fo’ yeahs an’ yeahs,
Fo’ dat chicken was er scramblin’
An’ a fallin’ obeah cheers.

Preechah Weed he got so ’cited
Dat he run clah out his coat,
Fell ergin de stobe kerwollup!
Butt his haid an’ swo’ by note.

But he jump’d up in er jiffy,
Feelin’ lak he was befo’,
Gibb er ban’ spring fo’ dat chicken,
But by Jinks he’s mos’ too slo’.

’Dough he hit he’s haid er stunnah,
Diden’ eben make er dent,
Kaze, he’s so much lak de debbil,
Haid was hard ez adament.

All de time de res’ was skufflin’
An’ er kickin’ right an’ lef’,
Got so bunkshus an’ bumbastic
Dey kood hahdly ’tain deyse’f.

Loudah! Loudah! Got de janglin’
Mo’ an’ mo’ dey ring’d dey bluf’,
Wuss de grabbin’ fo’ de chicken
Den’s when dey got at it ruf.

Sum done pullin’ out dey razzahs
An’ er kyahvin’ fo’ de koh.
All de sistahs got to axin’
Lawd sake leeb us out de doh!

Fin’ly Bruddah Moses wid er
Kinedah p’culiar kine er trick,
Kotch’d de poultry, made er bee-line,
Cut er reg’lah dubble quick.

Den sum swo’ day had bin kunjud,
Uddahs ’clahd dey’d bin hoo-dood,
Lef’ de ch’ch er swahin’ vengeance
In de wusses’ kine er mood.

YES, WEES GOT ER FLAG.

Ise hyeahd while in mah ramblin’s
Dat ah mos’ subnoxshus choon,
Dat ebry bressed nayshun’s
Got er flag excep’ de coon.
I hyeah de white fo’ks sing it,
An’ I hyeah de niggahs, too—
De way de niggahs sing it
Seems dey ’cep’ de thing fo’ true.