University of California Berkeley 
 

 SO 
 
SJ|ta bonk is r? apf rtfttlig 
 
 to 
 
 One of nature's noblemen, a 
 diamond of the first water, with- 
 out a flaw, whose noble and un- 
 selfish efforts have contributed to 
 the success of his fellowmen. 
 
DARKEY DITTIES 
 
 POEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 ELLIOTT B. HENDERSON 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 Plantation Echoes 
 Soliloquy of Satan 
 Dis, Dat and Tutter 
 Jc8 Plain Black Fo'ks 
 Uneducated Fo'ks 
 Humble Fo'ks 
 Darkey Meditations 
 Old Fashioned Black Fo'ks 
 
 COLUMBUS, OHIO 
 1915 
 
Plinkertee, plinkertee 
 
 Plinkertee plunk! 
 
 Time foh de possum 
 
 An' de coon an' de skunk! 
 
 Pickahninnies rompin' 
 
 'Bout de a-corn tree, 
 
 Bullfrog says 
 
 It's mighty good here to be. 
 
 Duck says to gander 
 
 "Take o' drink! Take o' drink!" 
 
 Gobbler says de weddah's 
 
 Rinkeedink ! Rinkedink ! 
 
 Bluebird hollers 
 
 "Whah's yo' gwine? Whah's yo' gwine? 
 
 Jay bird says, Nebbah mine! Nebbah mine!" 
 
 De nights sortah frosty 
 An' de moon shines pale, 
 De hound smells de possum, 
 An' done struck de trail. 
 It's high-ho Johnny 
 Let's go erlong too ! 
 We'll roun' up Mistah Possum 
 Fo' de clock strikes two! 
 
Ah Mistah Possum, 
 An' Ah! Mistah Coon, 
 It's "high-diddee-diddle" 
 We'll have yo' poordy soon ! 
 De pot's on er bilein' 
 An' de sweeter tayters plenty. 
 Er rinkeedinkee 'cepshun, 
 Waitin' foh yo' in de shanty. 
 
Shadows drappin' 
 Sof'ly down, 
 Moonlight peekin' thew, 
 Birds an* bees 
 Is sleepin' soun', 
 Fo'kses 'bout, is few. 
 
 Barnyard rooster 
 Heshed his mouf 
 Gobbler quit his spattin', 
 Guinea pig an' all his f o'ks 
 Doze'n fas' er nappin' ! 
 
 Yaller dog 
 
 Er prowlin' 'roun' 
 
 Howlin' lonesome lack. 
 
 Possum sneakin' 
 
 Lack he's 'fraid 
 
 Hound done struck his track! 
 
 Coon er tippin' 
 
 Sortah o' so, 
 
 'Pearin' sort o' cunnin', 
 
 Spies er darkey's track eroun', 
 
 An' takes out o' runnin'! 
 
Soft, soft the day 
 From earth takes flight, 
 From unknown heights 
 Slips down the night, 
 While sweet strains float 
 From heavenly choirs, 
 Fond holy hands 
 Light up the stars. 
 
 The flowers droop, 
 Their petals close, 
 Bird, beast and man 
 Seek sweet repose. 
 Calm and serene 
 All Nature sleeps, 
 While Heavenly hosts 
 Quiet vigil keep. 
 
 8 
 
Left {the Fiddle G Squneak 
 
 Let de fiddle go squeak ! 
 Let de fiddle go squawk! 
 Balance down de middle, 
 Cullahd f o'kses quit yoh talk, 
 While dey fixes up de possum 
 Fo' to serb us aftah while, 
 We'll dance Tom Sawyer 
 In de ol j fashion style. 
 
 Seems er fiddle's got charms 
 To make de ol' f o'ks lack de young, 
 Jes J give 'way to dey feelins 
 Till dey jes' git all unstrung, 
 An' de fus ting yo' know 
 You am started on de jump, 
 An' yo' jes' got to bobb 
 An' yo' jes' got to hump! 
 
 Cullahd f o'kses joice yo'se'ves 
 Shout de roof plum off de shanty ! 
 Keep eyes on de white f o'ks 
 Won't yo' uncle, won't yo' auntie ? 
 Kaze it's pickee, dillee dillee. 
 Not er cent foh yoh hide, 
 Ef de white fo'ks ketch us dressed up 
 Kickin' up diss fuss inside. 
 
Whose dat er bobbin* 
 Down dis way in de crowd? 
 Now an' den er steppin' 
 Sortah friskee, sortah proud! 
 Ef it tain't Deacon Jones 
 Ah hain't nebbah eated chicken ! 
 Does mah eyes deceive me, 
 Realty's dat de deacon kickin'? 
 
 Ah nebbah knowed er fiddle, 
 Fo'ks could do so much befor'! 
 To make er pious deacon 
 Dance er jigg erpon de flo'! 
 It's got de deacon ac'in' 
 Lack he's tickled to de bone. 
 Done pawted wid his 'liggen 
 Foh er happy squeakin' tone. 
 
 10 
 
A Clhairiige off Policy 
 
 Ah uster have de idea 
 
 Dat hospertalertee 
 
 Am er ting to love an' cherish, 
 
 Foh evah one yo' see, 
 
 To eat, drink an' be merry 
 
 Fum Peter down to Paul, 
 
 Jes' come in evahbody 
 
 An' he'p yo'se'ves to all. 
 
 Yo' know we ol* Verginians 
 Am noted foh sich pranks. 
 We don't do it to show off, 
 Ner do sich tings foh tanks. 
 We natchly lacks to do it 
 An' pow'ful good we feel, 
 To have er friend er stranger 
 Drap in an' eat er meal. 
 
 But don't yo' know Ah long since f o'ks, 
 
 Changed tactics long dat line, 
 
 Since Eldah Bowconstricter 
 
 Eat up ah geese an' swine, 
 
 Kaze de way he stuffed an' eat 
 
 He knocked de wind mos' out ob me, 
 
 An' Ah swo' Ahs thew wid diss hyah ting, 
 
 Called hospertallertee ! 
 
 11 
 
De way we come to ax him 
 To eat er bite er so, 
 He happened jes' to drap in 
 To find out an' to know, 
 De reason dat we fo'kses 
 We didn't come to church, 
 An' kose he said he's saunt out 
 To make er little search. 
 
 Well we axd him den to sot down, 
 An' try some ob ah fare. 
 But didn't have no idea, 
 Dat he'd eat more den his share. 
 But when he said, now sistah 
 Don't bodder tall 'bout me 
 Ah doesn't need no he'pin' 
 'Twont take yo' long to see. 
 
 Yo' bet er pewter dollah 
 It didn't take us long, 
 To find out dat de eldah 
 On eatin's pow'ful strong. 
 Kaze de way he fell to eatin', 
 Was lack er thrash merchine, 
 Er crunchin' an* er crushin'. 
 Er way dat's seldom seen. 
 
 He reached out for de chicken 
 An' clahd his tho'at er spell, 
 An' said now fo'ks mah eatin' 
 Will be somewhut "pell mell" ! 
 
 12 
 
Ez fas' ez yo' can fetch it 
 Ah'll 'stroy it fas' ez sin, 
 Yo' needn't wait er secun, 
 But keep er tote'n it in. 
 
 Ah's hyahd so much talk sistah, 
 'Bout yoh cookin' being so fine, 
 Dat Ah said Ah hoped de pribbledge, 
 Would one deez days be mine, 
 Ob drappin' in pertookin' 
 Ob er HT bite er so, 
 To tell de f o'ks erbout it, 
 An' praise yo' whah Ah go. 
 
 Jes' one mo' piece of chicken, 
 Mah sistah dat will do ! 
 Ernuddah tace ob sausage, 
 Six biscuits an' Ah's thew! 
 Diss stuff Ah's eat diss mawnin' 
 Done reached de deepes' spot! 
 Ef Ah had jes' one mo' stummick, 
 Gawd knows, Ahd clean de pot ! 
 
 Well when de eldah slowed up, 
 An' said well f o'ks Ah's thew ! 
 Ah cried, "Well wife an' famly, 
 Dey hain't much lef ' f oh yo' ! 
 De eldah said, "Well bruddah, 
 Don't worry 'bout dat tall. 
 De way yo' fed me freely, 
 De Lawd will bress yo' all ! 
 
 13 
 
I sometimes think 
 
 While ponderin' over things 
 
 That the darky's 'bout ez happy's 
 
 Tho he had a pair wings. 
 
 Jes' er flippin' an* er floppin' 
 
 An' er swoupin' through the air 
 
 Without an' ounce of trouble, 
 
 And without a pound of care. 
 
 Trouble, trouble, trouble 
 
 Like a cyclone, come 
 
 But with all it doesn't seem to make 
 
 Him feel a bit glum. 
 
 He jes' dances and sings 
 
 And goes twiddle, twiddle, twiddle 
 
 Jes' the mention of a banjo 
 
 Or the squeak of a fiddle. 
 
 If he lives in a shanty 
 Not a nickel in his purse, 
 He just goes to singing', 
 "Well things could be worse!" 
 And smacks his lips as thankful, 
 Ton the leavings in the pot 
 Just as tho he's been a feastin' 
 On the best a king's got. 
 
 14 
 
It is kinder curious 
 After all don't you think, 
 How the darky seems glad, 
 In spite of trouble never shrinks ! 
 Well it may be the Lord 
 Had a notion, thought it best, 
 To give him plenty gladness 
 To make his troubles seem less. 
 
 You talk about Heaven, 
 What a hokee-pokee time, 
 That the darky's going to have 
 When he get's where it's sublime, 
 But the darky isn't waitin', 
 To go to Heaven for his fun, 
 But he's havin' barrels o' joy 
 Before his earthly work's done! 
 
 It's a pretty good philosophy, 
 I guess after all, 
 To laugh and dance and frolic 
 When life seems bitter gall. 
 For it lightens many burden, 
 And drives 'way many trouble, 
 When a happy go-lucky feeling 
 In your soul keeps o' bubble! 
 
 I bet there's not a nation 
 On God's green earth, 
 Regardless of its surroundings 
 And regardless of its worth, 
 
 15 
 
That can get out of life, 
 The sweetness to the core, 
 That the darky is o' getting, 
 'Though he's poorest of the poor. 
 
 White fo'ks have been o' trying hard 
 
 To figger out the thing, 
 
 How the darky with all his trouble 
 
 Still can pat his foot and sing, 
 
 Go jogging 'long the road 
 
 With a load upon his back, 
 
 And can slute you jolly, "high boss !" 
 
 And can plenty jokes crack. 
 
 But they're just killing time, 
 It's a riddle they can't guess, 
 For the more they try to figger it, 
 They'll know but less and less. 
 So the only thing to do, 
 Is to take this fact for granted, 
 That the seed of genuine joy's 
 Only in the negro planted. 
 
 16 
 
A PlanaftaftJoim ^Sfep-eiflborf 
 
 De fiddles am er squeakin' 
 An' de banjo sounds fine! 
 Ol' fo'ks drapped dey crutches 
 Am er hoppin' into line. 
 An' de pranks an' de capeahs 
 Dey's er cuttin' roun' erbout, 
 You'd nebbah 'spect dey's bodderd 
 Wid de 'matticks er de gout ! 
 
 Who'd ebber thunk it once, 
 
 Dat ol* man Jimpson Crown, 
 
 Could ebber tink ob gittin' 
 
 'Roun' so peert erpon de groun'? 
 
 Er creepin' lack er snail he's been, 
 
 Since way back sixty one, 
 
 He out jumps ol' man Hopp-Toad, now 
 
 An' tickled wid de fun. 
 
 Come Susan, hoi' mah duster! 
 Dis ol' man mus' dance, too ! 
 Dat debblish music's tickled me, 
 Till dares nuffin' else to do. 
 Ah know yo' tink it's foolish 
 Foh er man ez ol' ez me, 
 To do tricks lack de young fo'ks, 
 But ol' woman jes' watch me! 
 
 17 
 
Hoi' on, Uncle Jasper, 
 Yo' hain't ha'f so peert ez me ! 
 Youse too slo' in bofe yoh footses 
 Wid too much crook in de knee. 
 Koch er hoi' mah coat tail, sah ! 
 Now dance it up an' down ! 
 Let loose mah coat tail uncle, 
 Youse too slo' f oh diss hyah 'roun' ! 
 
 Come on Tootsy Rookey, 
 Let 'em see whut yo' can do! 
 Koch hoi' de ol' man's duster 
 An' we'll swing it 'to an' to*. 
 Youse sholy flouncin' Tootsy 
 Jes' keep erlong wid me, 
 We'll safely reach de harbor 
 In de sweet, bee-an'-bee ! 
 
 Yoh beau am gittin' jealous 
 But don't pay no mine to dat! 
 Kaze youse mah dimple-derry, 
 An' Ah kyeers ner titt, ner tatt ! 
 Keep er plinkin' at de banjo, 
 Let de fiddles whine an' cry, 
 Kaze Ahs happy ez er jay bird, 
 Stealin' crackers on de sly. 
 
 Now slute yoh partners Tootsy, 
 Time to balance down de middle. 
 Swing it little mo', 
 We'll go twiddle, twiddle, twiddle ! 
 
 18 
 
Ahs jes' gittin' in de spirit, 
 An' de capeahs dat we's done, 
 Hain't nuffin' dat we'll show 'em, 
 'Fo' we's ha'f thew diss fun. 
 
 Possum, sweet pertayters. 
 Yo' say am in de kitchen? 
 Come on Tootsy Rookey, 
 It's time to quit diss switchin' ! 
 
 19 
 
I some times think 
 
 That in this old world of strife 
 That the Negro, alone, 
 
 Gets real sweetness out of life, 
 For the simple good reason, 
 
 That with just a little bit, 
 He's always in good spirits 
 
 And a bustin' out with wit ! 
 
 Why, he'll dance and sing 
 
 If he hasn't got a cent 
 To pay for his "britches," 
 
 Or to pay for the rent. 
 While the white man's a-worrying 
 
 Because he's got no more, 
 The Negro is rejoicing singing 
 
 "All's Honkeedore!" 
 
 He's happy-go-lucky 
 
 If it rains or it shines; 
 If otherwise in spirit 
 
 Why he doesn't show no sign. 
 If compelled to feast on "middlins" 
 
 Instead of eating chicken 
 He licks his chops contented, 
 
 Goes on eating without kicking. 
 
 20 
 
The lightning can flash, 
 
 And the thunder can roar, 
 And the winds raise the mischief, 
 
 Threaten to break in the door ; 
 But he'll just cross his legs 
 
 And sit back 'side the wall 
 As though he isn't bothered 
 
 As to what come at all ! 
 
 That the Negro's constituted 
 
 Peculiarly, why, there's no doubt 
 Under the most discouraging features 
 
 He will sing, rejoice and shout! 
 It seems he has the knack 
 
 To make trouble tuck his tail and run, 
 And look on in a jolly mood 
 
 And seem to e'joy the fun. 
 
 When he gets muddled, 
 
 Or when he gets blue, 
 He don't fetch his troubles roun, 
 
 To pester me and you, 
 But he totes right along, 
 
 With a whistle or a song. 
 As though things are right, 
 
 And nothing's gone wrong. 
 
 If he's got the rheumatism, 
 If he's got the chronic gout, 
 
 Don't matter how they pester 
 
 In church meeting, he can shout! 
 
 21 
 
Just fling his legs like sixty, 
 
 Throw his crutch and cane away, 
 
 And shout 'long with the fastest 
 From midnight plum till day. 
 
 If his burden gets so heavy, 
 
 That it bends him nigh mos' double, 
 He jogs along o' singing 
 
 "Umph, it's trouble, trouble, trouble !" 
 De good Lawd's gwine to fetch us out 
 
 All right bye and bye ! 
 Keep er inchin' erlong, keep er inchin' erlong, 
 
 Don't weep, don't moan, ner sigh ! 
 
 It isn't because the Negro 
 
 Doesn't have ups and downs, 
 That he doesn't seem to worry 
 
 And seldom seems to frown. 
 For the Negro has had 
 
 A pretty hard row of stumps, 
 To get up 'bove the level 
 
 Of the knocks and the bumps ! 
 
 He's had a lot of ups and downs 
 
 Too numerous for to mention, 
 But he has plodded right along, 
 
 A trying to Void contention. 
 In spite of all the crooks and turns, 
 
 Of all the rough and tumble 
 Through devious ways he has been raised 
 
 From depths most grim and humble ! 
 
 22 
 
But there are times some things are done 
 
 Which go against his grain, 
 That rile him up and make him sore, 
 
 Because strikes deep the pain; 
 But soon it passes as the storm 
 
 And he forgets the sting, 
 With heart and soul he tugs away, 
 
 And pats his foot and sings. 
 
 He has sung a song, 
 
 For decades in this clime, 
 "You may have all the world 
 
 Gimme Jesus all the time." 
 Some people take it 
 
 As a pretty good joke! 
 Say he's got all of Jesus, 
 
 All the "world," the white folk! 
 
 But he's waking up, 
 
 He's opened his eyes! 
 He's getting broad, 
 
 He's getting wise! 
 And long since learned 
 
 That money gotten right, 
 To take along, with Jesus 
 
 For to help him out his plight ! 
 
 So as a final 
 
 To this scribble 
 I will add 
 
 Just one more ripple! 
 
 23 
 
In true language 
 
 I will say, 
 Now understand, 
 
 I don't gainsay, 
 
 I am a Negro 
 
 Plum to the core ! 
 My Gracious Master 
 
 I adore, 
 That He has made me 
 
 What I am 
 A true born son 
 
 Of the race of Ham! 
 
 24 
 
Deys nuffin' dat am beddah 
 
 Fo' to dribe erway de muddles, 
 To git you out de mire 
 
 An' to fotch you out de puddles, 
 Den to caper to de music 
 
 Ob an* or banjo, 
 When de music's quick an' ticklish 
 
 An' it 'taint er bit slo' ! 
 
 How it's plinkertee, plink! 
 An' it's plunkertee, plunk! 
 Gits you hoppin' an' o' bobbin' 
 Till you feel hunkeedunk! 
 
 When de day drags slo', 
 
 An' de hours solemn lak 
 An' de shaddahs dawk an' gloomy, 
 
 Settle roun' erbout yo' shack, 
 An' de rain drizzles down 
 
 Wid it's pitter, pitter pattar 
 Ef you den can hyah de banjo 
 
 How you lonesum f eelin' scattahs ! 
 
 Kaze it's plinkertee, plink! 
 An' it's plunkertee, plunk! 
 Gits you hoppin' an o' bobbin' 
 Till you feel hunkeedunk ! 
 
 25 
 
When de banjo plays de ditty, 
 
 "Uncle Kech, Sally Brown" 
 
 An' de uddah, "Stan' Back Young Foks" 
 
 Slute de ol' f o'ks come to town ?" 
 An' evahbody's drappin' in 
 
 Er hoppin' 'bout with ease, 
 An' you hyah de call er coming', 
 
 "Slute yoh poddnahs ef you please!" 
 
 How it's plinkertee, plink! 
 An' it's plunkertee, plunk! 
 Gits you hoppin' an' o' bobbin' 
 Till you feel hunkeedunk! 
 
 26 
 
A Rogirefttelbfe 
 
 Speakin' bout hoghead 
 
 Puts me in de mine, 
 
 Ob de time ah's mawlin' rails, 
 
 B'low de Mason-Dixon line. 
 
 One day ah fotchd er hoghead, home, 
 
 When Mandy says to me, 
 
 Let's hab er hoghead supper, 
 
 An' vite obber, Eldah Lee ! 
 
 Ah said umph! Dat's jimdandy! 
 
 Ah's got no jeckshens tall! 
 
 Ah tinks ahd lak to hab de Eldah 
 
 Drap in fo' er call! 
 
 Ah bleeb it's time dat we should shov/ 
 
 Our good will toward de brudder, 
 
 An' 'sten an' inbertayshun, now, 
 
 Widdout er waitin' f udder! 
 
 So Mandy hopped an' jumped erbout 
 
 Er singin' an' er smilin', 
 
 An' put de pots and skillets on, 
 
 An' soon had tings er bilein' ! 
 
 She's dabblin' hyah, she's dabblin' dare, 
 
 Er tarnin' dis way an' tudder, 
 
 While de hoghead bilein' in de pot 
 
 Kep' saying', "spudder ! spudder !" 
 
 27 
 
We sent ah liT Rastus out 
 
 To tell de Eldah Lee, 
 
 To fotch his wife an' family, obber, 
 
 To ah shack f o' tea ! 
 
 We barely got tings fixed up right, 
 
 When long comes Eldah Lee, 
 
 An' hopps into ah shanty, says, 
 
 "We am done come, you see! 
 
 Ah hopes you all will skewze us, 
 
 Ef wees liT head ob time. 
 
 Ah spoze it makes no diffunce, 
 
 An' you 'sidders it no crime! 
 
 When Rastus said er hoghead feas' 
 
 Was waitin' fo' us all, 
 
 Ah made mah mind up ahd be hyah, 
 
 Ef fo'ks, ah had to crawl! 
 
 Ah 'seeved yoh immitation 
 
 Jes' befo' de clock struck fow! 
 
 An' ah tole mah wife an' fambly 
 
 Dat ah 'spec' weed beddah go. 
 
 Ah knows yoh latch string, brudder's 
 
 Allus danglin' out fo' me! 
 
 An' it makes me feel ez tickled 
 
 An' ez happy ez can be! 
 
 You all since ah's been preechin' hyah, 
 Hab treated me so nice, 
 Dat ahd lak to be yoh preechah 
 Twice ez long ez Eldah Fice! 
 
 28 
 
It seems to me mah bruddah, 
 Dat ah's been hyah all mah life! 
 An' longs you feed us diss erway 
 We sho' won't hab no strife! 
 
 You know ah is yoh shepherd 
 
 An' you all am some mah flock! 
 
 So keep er plenty hoghead, chickens, 
 
 All sich stuff in stock! 
 
 You kno' de scripshure pintly says, 
 
 'Gawd's lams mus' all be fed!' 
 
 So you am carryin' out dem sweet words 
 
 In 'vitein' us to dis spread!" 
 
 At las' ah said "sot down you fo'ks 
 
 Dey haint no use ob waitin'!" 
 
 De eldah said, "You're right mah fren, 
 
 'Bout date we'll hab no d'batein ! 
 
 Jes' sot me near dat hoghead, 
 
 Ef you hab no superstishen ! 
 
 It seems in diss ol' world, mah fren, 
 
 Dat eatin's mah special mission !" 
 
 Umph! When he opened up his mouf, 
 
 Commenced to ax de bressins, 
 
 'Twas den ah felt down in mah heart 
 
 Er feelin' mos' distressin'! 
 
 He said, "Oh Lawd, sich stuff ez diss, 
 
 Am mannah fum on high! 
 
 'Recpt mah tanks fo' sich good luck, 
 
 Dat hab not passed me by! 
 
 29 
 
"Ah loves to kno' dat hyah below, 
 Wees got some milk an' honey! 
 An' dat it tain't all up erbove, 
 Whah de streets am gold an' sunny! 
 We want some good tings *fo' we leave 
 Diss hyah ol' worl' ob trouble ! 
 Tote some mo' hoghead, chickens 'roun', 
 An' make ah pohshen doubble!" 
 
 He litt into dat hoghead 
 
 An' jes' toh it all to pieces 
 
 He put de mos' erpon his plate, 
 
 Said, mah fren' ah now beseeches, 
 
 You do de waitin' on de res', 
 
 Dat am mo' to yoh lackin', 
 
 Ah'll he'p mahse'f an' eat right on, 
 
 An' keep some jokes er crackin'! 
 
 Diss hoghead goes right to de spot! 
 
 Ah kain't leeb off er secun! 
 
 Ef you don't stop me, dog mah skins, 
 
 Ah'll eat it all, ah reckun! 
 
 Kose you don't mine dat ah presumes, 
 
 Beings it's mah choices' meat. 
 
 Ah knows it does you pow'ful good 
 
 To see yoh Pawson eat ! 
 
 He fotched all ob his chillun 'long, 
 'Bout sixteen pickahninnies ! 
 Umph ! Mussy me ! how dey did eat ! 
 Dey stuffed lak ducks and guineas! 
 
 30 
 
Dey licked dey chops, dey 
 
 Licked de plates, dey licked dey fingers, too! 
 
 De Eldah cried, keep eatin' fo'ks 
 
 Lawd knows we's jes' ha'f thru! 
 
 Well then dey rizz up fo' to go, 
 
 Ah sho' gawd felt lak shoutin' ! 
 
 De way dey eat, dey made me mad, 
 
 Ah's swelled up an' er poutin'. 
 
 In fac' ah's mad ernuff to fight! 
 
 An' ef day'd kep' on eatin', 
 
 Ahd smacked dem chillun 'way fum dare, 
 
 An' gibb de paws'n er beatin' ! 
 
 Dey eat much ez er dozen dogs, 
 
 Six hogs two mules besides. 
 
 Ah wandered how dey ebber put, 
 
 All dat stuff in dey hides. 
 
 Ah swo' dat preechah and his fo'ks, 
 
 Done eat dey las' wid me. 
 
 An' when dey filed out, said good bye, 
 
 Ah cried, thank God we're free! 
 
 Well whut dey lef 
 Dey wouldn't been, 
 Ernuff to grease er nickel! 
 De only ting, dey didn't tech, 
 Was jes' one poh small pickle! 
 De nex' time dat ah has hoghead, 
 You bet yoh coon skin jacket, 
 Ah'll 'vite no body but mahse'f, 
 Ah don't care who don't lack it ! 
 
 31 
 
ftdhi sum Bttdhra 9 m MA Sim 
 
 Sich er itchin' in mah shins 
 
 Sich er ticklin' in mah feet! 
 Kaze de music ob de ragtime 
 
 Is so poody an' so sweet! 
 Dey hain't nuffn' dat am sweetah 
 
 Fo' to make you hop and jump 
 Den de music ob de ragtime 
 
 When it's comin' thumppee-te-thump ! 
 
 Sich er bobbin' up an' down! 
 
 Sich er swingin' to an' fro' 
 Cullahd fo'ks is mighty happy 
 
 When dey's makin' sich er sho'! 
 Dey's 'bout ez nigh heaven 
 
 Ez dey ebbah wants to be. 
 Den it's "Go day, God send Sunday, 
 
 Ebbah day is juberlee!" 
 
 Dat's de cullahd fo'kses music! 
 
 White fo'ks go way, leeb it lone! 
 You hain't got er bit ob business 
 
 Techin' not er single tone. 
 You jes' go 'long wid yoh music 
 
 Dat you calls de "klassahkal," 
 While we bundles up ah "rag time" 
 
 An' goes "Gittin' Over Sal!" 
 
 Why dat music, go way honey, 
 Makes you feel jes' lack you fly in'! 
 
 32 
 
Lack you bobbin' up to glory 
 
 Wid er feelin' satisfyin'! 
 An' you doesn't care er particle 
 
 Wheddah you ebbah stop er tall ! 
 Jes' so longs you keeps er gwine, 
 
 An' you doesn't slip er fall! 
 
 Why de music ob de rag time's 
 
 Got er happy-go-lucky snap! 
 Dat jes' drags you out yoh dozes, 
 
 An' jes' pulls you out yoh nap! 
 An' de wise jes' lack de foolish 
 
 Bofe will kick an' squerm 'eroun,' 
 When er fiddle, band er banjo 
 
 Monkeys wid its raggitty soun'. 
 
 Kose you sometimes may ax scanlous, 
 
 Give yoh feelins sich er slack 
 Dat de folks er lookin' at you, 
 
 Tink yoh mind is jumped de track! 
 But ez long ez you is tickled 
 
 You don't mine it you don't kyeer, 
 Kaze it he'ps you 'long wid trouble 
 
 Fills yoh heart plum full ob cheer! 
 
 Dat's de reason dat de rag time 
 
 Puts fo'ks in er jolly vain, 
 Kaze its got de snap an' ginger 
 
 Dat is simple sweet an', plain! 
 It tain't stuck up lack dat music 
 
 Wid er highkerflootin' tone, 
 But it keeps down wid de plain fo'ks 
 
 So dey understan' it's moan. 
 
 33 
 
Summah 
 
 Wintah's gone! 
 
 Summah's come! 
 Feel's lack waltzin', 
 
 Dancin', some! 
 White fo'ks, black fo'ks, 
 
 Ol' an' glum, 
 Is tickled lack de mischief 
 
 When Summah's come! 
 
 Blue bird singin' 
 
 Lack de cullahd fo'ks! 
 Jay bird talkin' 
 
 Lack he's tellin' jokes ! 
 Woodpeckah drummin' 
 
 Lack er deacon wid his cane, 
 Dat's er rappin' fo' de liniment 
 
 To rub erway his pain. 
 
 Whut's dat de bull frog's 
 
 Sayin' in de swamp ? 
 Cullahd fo'ks it's time 
 
 Fo' to play, an' to romp! 
 De goose hang's high 
 
 An' de melon's 'bout due! 
 Whut's de use o' workin' 
 
 When you don't ha'f to! 
 
 34 
 
Fox an' de groun' hog, 
 
 Tip toein' 'roun', 
 Lack dey's KT bit skyeerd 
 
 Dey'll meet mistah hound. 
 Dey hain't no tellin' 
 
 Whut de hound might do 
 Ef dey meet him ah's er tinkin' 
 
 T'would be cockle-doodle-doo ! 
 
 De day's so fine 
 
 An' de season's done come, 
 Ah tinks it's 'bout time 
 
 To do er li'l fishin' some! 
 When de sun shines on 
 
 Bofe sides ob de street, 
 Bass an' suckahs 
 
 Am bitein' poordy sweet! 
 
 Wintah's gone! 
 
 Summah's come! 
 Feels lack waltzin', 
 
 Dancin', some! 
 White fo'ks, black fo'ks, 
 
 Ol', an' glum, 
 Is tickled lack de mischief 
 
 When summah's come! 
 
 35 
 
Ye sons of Adam's mighty race, 
 
 Unfettered by God's munificent grace, 
 
 Have ye forgot that noble sire, 
 
 Who filled with patriotic fire, 
 
 Struck first the blow for freedom's cause 
 
 To abbrogate the tyrant's laws? 
 
 If such there be let him be shunned, 
 
 By every loyal patriot son! 
 
 He is not fit for freedom's clan, 
 
 Who forgets the deeds of such a man ! 
 
 Heaven hath decreed through Adam's fall, 
 Each race for a spell must bear the thrall. 
 Through blood and tears it must be freed, 
 By brave magnanimous, generous deeds. 
 Hear ye! the cry from thralldom's plain, 
 "Arise ye slaves, shake off thy chains !" 
 While tyrants tremble, cringe and groan, 
 Dismayed they totter on their thrones! 
 Against tyranny, that great revolt, 
 Rushed like the mighty thunder bolts, 
 And like a Vesuvius in eruptive state, 
 It left the foe most desolate! 
 
 Liberty, the invigorating elixir sweet ! 
 Descended from heav'n's mercy seat, 
 The boon for which all mankind thrives, 
 Bought by the blood of countless lives, 
 
 36 
 
Inspired that act which broke the spell, 
 For which brave Crispus Attucks, fell. 
 
 Well didst he. strike ! This martyr brave, 
 Couldst he but rise up from his grave 
 Behold his country disenthralled, 
 In majesty and sweet content 
 'Mitl scenes most glorious, eloquent, 
 Filled with an unctuous holy joy 
 To sweeter dreams he could lie down, 
 Through evening shades pass to yon shore 
 Receive the well earned martyr's crown. 
 
 Who was this man whose deeds we trace ? 
 He was of Ethiopia's race, 
 Whose sons have suffered, bled and died, 
 To help make this land unified! 
 
 Ye sons of Ethiopia's race, 
 
 Arise witn dignity and grace ! 
 
 Since from beneath the chastening rod 
 
 Ye have been raised by mighty God, 
 
 Heaven expects thee to help rear, 
 
 The mighty structure building here! 
 
 His body sleeps beneath the sod, 
 O'er which no tyrants cohorts trod. 
 Though dead, yet he is more alive 
 Than when on earth he did here strive. 
 The blow he struck for freedom's band, 
 Still goes resounding through the land. 
 To those unborn it shall proclaim 
 "Liberty for all" in Heaven's name. 
 
 37 
 
His deeds shall shine like that great light 
 Which bursts from Pisga's lofty height. 
 The encircling gloom cannot obscure 
 Its light that shines for ever more. 
 
 So let His deeds pour souls inspire! 
 Filled with a patriotic fire, 
 First, last and always, ever be, 
 A negro ! Proud of your ancestry ! 
 
 Liberty enthroned the great jubilate 
 
 Is sung by the Angels as they congregate, 
 
 Around the portals of the Lord 
 
 And strike their harps with one accord! 
 
 Write with a vigor, with a fire, 
 The name of this redoubtable sire! 
 Upon the page ascribed to those, 
 Who died to lift a nation's woes ! 
 
 38 
 
Ah comes from ol' Virginnee, 
 
 De bes' state in de lanM 
 
 Whah fo'ks hain't skyahd to meet you, 
 
 Hain't erf raid to shake yo' han'. 
 
 Dey's jes' plain an' or fashion, 
 
 Dey don't put on no airs, 
 
 Wid fo'k's dat do, you bet yo' life 
 
 Dey's got no time to spare. 
 
 Why down in ol' Virginnee, 
 
 Why, it's "come in ! howdee-you-doo !" 
 
 Hab er bite ob sumpun, fo' yo' journey you 
 
 pursue ! 
 
 Jes' stay long ez you mine to, 
 You neen't pay er cent! 
 Jes' make yo'se'f one ob us 
 An' we all, will feel content! 
 An' feed yo' ? lawd er massy chile ! 
 Dey don't konw when to stop! 
 It's hab some mo, dat hog head, brudder, 
 Hab er nudder chop! 
 Den fus'ting yo'll hyah ol' uncle, say, 
 Chile, is you skyahd to eat? 
 Ef you don't eat up all ah pass, 
 You'll i'sult ol' Uncle Pete! 
 
 Den nex' hyah comes ol' granny 
 39 
 
Wid some egg pone jes' lak gol' ! 
 Some mustard greens wid bacon 
 An' some good ol' fat hog jowl! 
 An' by de time she's fotchd yo' 
 Plenty chicken, plenty gobbler, 
 Bejinks yo' hain't got room ernuf 
 To stuff down apple cobbler. 
 Poordy soon yo'll see ol' granny, 
 Sof ly steal out in de kitchen, 
 Tain't long fo' she's totein' back, 
 Jes' er rahin' back jes' er switchin'. 
 Den ol' uncle ejacerlates, 
 "Sho' ez ah's born to die" ! 
 Sookeeryah, Looey Jane, 
 Whah am mah Rock an' Rye?" 
 
 Den granny kinder teasin' lak 
 
 Pokes out er dimmejohn. 
 
 An' uncle clahs his tho'at dat sounds 
 
 Bout lak er cracked fox horn. 
 
 An' says, "dis takes all de kinks 
 
 Out de back! 
 
 So pass yo goards 
 
 An' hab jes' er smack"! 
 
 It's good f o' de rich, 
 
 It's good fo' de po'! 
 
 Go back in de kitchen Lizea 
 
 Fetch us all some mo'. 
 
 Dat's de way dem fo'kses treat yo', 
 Dey want to see yo' joy yo'se'f ! 
 Eat an' drink jes' all yo' mine to 
 Long ez anyting is lef. 
 
 40 
 
Yo' bet dey's allus got er barrel ob 
 Grub eroun' de shanty! 
 Summer, winter, spring er fall, 
 You nebber find it scanty 
 You go to church, to Sunday meetm', 
 Ebbry body wants to meet yo' ! 
 Dey don't wait fo' yo' to speak fus' 
 But dey tote right up an' greet yo' ! 
 Dey don't stan' off er lookin' lak 
 Yo' was some alligator, 
 Erfraid to git up close to yo', 
 Lak yo's er spile pertater. 
 
 Yo'll find dem zackly lak ah tells yo' 
 
 Ez ol' fashion ez de dickens ! 
 
 Don't kyah ef yo's poh ez snakes, 
 
 Er rich ez Peter Diggens! 
 
 It hain't yo' clothes de's lookin' at, 
 
 Ner at yo' eddeerkayshen. 
 
 But good hoss sense an' propah ways 
 
 Whut wins dey admiration! 
 
 Ahs been up hyah in dis hyah state, 
 
 Ahspec' poord nah f ow years er so. 
 
 Deez fo'kses to git quainted wid, 
 
 Dey sho' Gawd knows am mos' powful slo' 
 
 Ah kaint git use to dem at tall, 
 
 Dey ac's too ristercratic fo' me. 
 
 Ahd rudder be bodderd wid yaller jackets 
 
 Er stung in de ankle 
 
 Wid er bumble bee! 
 
 Dat's why yo' dadd an' me's sich pallies. 
 
 Kaze de fus' time dat ah struck diss town, 
 
 41 
 
Er stranger, he walked up to me, 
 
 Says' howd doo brudder which way's yo's bound ? 
 
 Why he jes' made me feel right dah 
 We'd bofe been 'quainted forty yeahs. 
 It did mah ol' heart so much good, 
 Ah mus' hab drapped some joyful tears! 
 Ah knowed right dah, yo' daddy's 
 Some de ol' Virginnee stock! 
 When he frowed his mouf wide open, 
 An* he den commenced to talk. 
 Zackly lak dem fo'ks down yonder, 
 It was, "come go home wid me! 
 We'll fill up de pots an' skillets 
 Fill yo' up till yo' kain't see! 
 
 Ef dey all was lak yo' daddy, 
 Wid er smile an' f renly han', 
 Dog mah cats, an' string terbaccer ! 
 Ah don't bleeb ahd leeb diss Ian'. 
 Kaze he's jes' de sort o' pusson 
 Dat can make yo' feel at home, 
 Till yo' feel jes' lak er settlin' down, 
 Wid feelin's not to roam! 
 
 42 
 
Sing dat song once mo', Miss Mandy, 
 Jes' once mo', jes' ef yo' please! 
 Sounds ez sweet ez angel whispers, 
 An' de song birds 'mong de trees, 
 It kyahs ma back! way back yonder, 
 Way down Souf! 
 
 Whah we tromped thoo' de cotton fields, 
 An' when ah hearts was sad, 
 
 We sing'd dat chune 
 Fo' to make ah souls glad, 
 Way down Souf! 
 
 Yo' know nuffin' 'bout dem days, Miss, Mandy, 
 Dat was befo' yo' time! 
 'Sides yo's been r'ared 
 
 In er diffun' clime! 
 
 Yo' nebbah had to wock fum de fus* horn bio* 
 Lake we uster had to wock 
 Till de sun sink'd low, 
 
 Way down Souf! 
 
 But we had good times, Miss Mandy, 
 Sum good ol' times fo' sho'! 
 But ol' Missy an' ol' Massa, 
 We diden' let 'em know. 
 Yo' bet we's mighty kyahful 
 When we had ah dance an' feas', 
 Dat ol' Missy an' ol' Massa 
 Didn't git an inklin' in de leas' ! 
 
 When Ah hyah dat chune, Miss Mandy, 
 Ah wants to step erbout, 
 An' do jes' lak de ol' fo'ks, 
 Ez dey uster sing an' shout, 
 Way down Souf! 
 
 43 
 
I kin see dem now! 
 
 Ez dey raised dey voice to sing, 
 
 An' sot de ol' big cabin 
 
 In one great big ring! 
 
 Way down Souf ! 
 
 But dem days done gone, Miss Mandy 
 Dey's gone lak er dream. 
 An' de ol' fo'ks, 
 Done crossed de stream! 
 But doh dey's gone, 
 An' ah's lef erlone, 
 An' ol' age creeped 
 In mah ebbry bone, 
 Dey's a hankerin' f eelin' ! 
 Keeps er dribein' me back, 
 Way down Souf ! 
 
 When er dahky is ol' 
 An' his step comes slo', 
 An' he totters lak er reed, 
 When de sof winds blow, 
 An' all his ties ob erf am dead, 
 An' fo'ks all strange 
 Whah ebber he tread, 
 It's de ol j time chune, 
 Wid er clah' keen knack! 
 Dat makes yo' feel new. 
 'Peahs yo' youth come back, 
 Way down Souf! 
 
 44 
 
Whan die Fnalhi Am Kimdlliini p Hft 
 
 When de sno' it am er fallin', 
 
 Winds er whizzin' down de lanes, 
 An' de fros' it am freezin' 
 
 Fo' yo' eyes erpun de panes, 
 Whut am beddah den er neslin' 
 
 'Roun' er fiah dat's roas'in' hot? 
 Fo' er pickahninny dahky 
 
 Hain't er mo' enchantin' spot. 
 
 When de breezes am er moanin' 
 
 An' de sun am sinkin' lo', 
 An' de gloomy clouds an' shaddahs 
 
 Geddah 'roun' erbout yo' do' ; 
 When yo' hyeah de co'n er poppin', 
 
 See de cidah all er foam, 
 In yo' soul de joy an' gladness 
 
 Seems eroun' erbout to roam. 
 
 An' yo granny am er hummin', 
 Cat er purrin' on de rug, 
 An' yo' git er sniff de burbun 
 
 Dat am steamin' fum de jug 
 Umph! de berry 'maggahnayshun 
 
 Makes er puson think it's real. 
 It am glory! Hesh yo' mouf sah, 
 
 Doan' yo' ax me how yo' feel. 
 
 45 
 
All yo' troubles an' yo' burdens 
 
 Seems to take de swif'es flight! 
 Tears yo' berry soul am lif 'ed 
 
 To de blissful mountain heights ! 
 Whah de lan's erflo' wid honey, 
 
 Streets an' alleys paved wid gol', 
 An' de simphonnies o' heaben's 
 
 Got er sweetnes' kaint be tol'. 
 
 Yo' kin sing de song o' Moses, 
 
 Shout yo'se'f clah to de sky! 
 Pickahninny's den in cloveah, 
 
 No time den to weep an' sigh. 
 Let de sno' keep on er fallin', 
 
 Let de breezes whizz an' moan, 
 Longs' er pickahninny's neslin' 
 
 'Roun er hot fiah ub his own. 
 
 46 
 
When de shadows ub de e'ebnin's 
 
 Gently, sof'ly fallin' 'roun', 
 'Cross de lonely field an* meadows, 
 
 Cums de cattle's lowin' soun'; 
 An* de vespah bells am ringin' 
 
 An' dey blen' in tuneful lay, 
 It's a knell dat's sad an' mournful 
 
 To de dying summah day. 
 
 An' yo' weary fum de labah 
 
 Ub de tillin' ub de soil, 
 Fum sun up 'till time ub sinkin' 
 
 Wif out res' mus' toil an' toil ; 
 How yo' welcum on de hours, 
 
 Blissful seezuns all ub res' 
 When a neslin' 'neef de kibbahs, 
 
 Yo' kin soff'en pillahs press. 
 
 When de HT lights ub hebun 
 
 Fum behine day kibbah peep, 
 All er blinkin' an' er twinklin' 
 
 Ez dey 'cross de hebuns creep ; 
 Dah's a sadden feelin' takes yo', 
 
 Ez yo' lonely sot an' sigh, 
 Ez yohr mem'ry goze to 'fleck'in 
 
 Ub de olen days gone by. 
 
 47 
 
How yohr ole home cums befo' yo' 
 
 Wif de fiah-place all erf'ame, 
 Ez it kindled an' enliven'd 
 
 Yo' into a joyful frame ; 
 An' de scene at night when gaddahd 
 
 All eroun' yohr mammy sot, 
 Ez she tole yo' little stohries, 
 
 Allus chahms de little tot. 
 
 Seemz yo' hyeah de old fo'ks singin', 
 
 An' dey voices ringin' clah, 
 Ez at night all knelt togeddah 
 
 Fo' to ax de mahstah's kyah, 
 To puzzurb dem fum de ebil 
 
 Spirits lurkin' far an' neer; 
 Keep dey minds all free fum feelin's 
 
 Soopahstishun an' fum feer. 
 
 How yo' long yo's wif de dahkies 
 
 Once mo' geddahd in de field, 
 When at night all in de moonlight, 
 
 Danced de ole Virginny reel ; 
 To de plumpin' ub de banjos 
 
 An' de fiddle's sawin' choon, 
 An' de songs dat wuz trumphun' 
 
 To de ole plantayshun coon. 
 
 48 
 
How yo' wish'd to 'gain libb obah 
 
 Dem days at yo' ole home spot, 
 Wif yo' frens dat's cross'd de ribbah, 
 
 Wuz again yo' happy lot; 
 But dem days hab gone fohebbah, 
 
 Nebah mo' will dey return, 
 When yo' sot an' 'fleck erbout 'em, 
 
 How yo' ole heart fo' dem yern. 
 
 49 
 
Inn Memornam 
 
 To THE LATE PAUL L. DUN BAR 
 
 God from His mighty throne looked down, 
 And plucked him as the blushing flower ; 
 
 Solemn as death, grieveous and awed, 
 Was made a grateful race that hour. 
 
 This is a debt we all must pay 
 
 The rich, the high, the low 
 The exit from this world to that 
 
 Of happiness or woe. 
 
 'Tis for the soul of spotless white, 
 
 Cleansed pure as Heaven's holy spheres, 
 
 To walk the streets beyond the void 
 Bereft of sighs, bereft of tears. 
 
 Brilliance of mind beyond discount, 
 The birthright of this noble son, 
 
 Forged verse which moved the hearts of men, 
 And brought him laurels truly won. 
 
 Deeds of potency and power 
 
 Wrought he 'mid clouds of dire dispair, 
 Upon successes sun kissed heights 
 
 He found at last a welcome there. 
 
 Verse flowed as magic from his pen, 
 Encouching sweet and beauteous thought, 
 
 Of negro life before the days 
 When struggling men for freedom fought. 
 
 50 
 
As long as history endures 
 
 He there shall find abiding place ; 
 Plaudits and honor e'er for him 
 
 The greatest poet of his race. 
 
 Not in monumental stone, 
 
 Not in history alone, 
 But in our loving, grateful hearts, 
 
 He there shall live shall find a throne. 
 
 Bury him in a hallowed spot, 
 
 Where devastation cometh not, 
 In a picturesque vale where nature in sublimity 
 
 Stands out in wondrous bold relief, 
 The enshinement of him 
 
 Whose life was brief. 
 
 51 
 
We gaze upon the shining orbs 
 
 That guild the depthless welkin dome, 
 
 Survey that grand etheral space where countless 
 
 hosts angelic roam, 
 Where symphonies, rythmical songs, 
 The chants, the lays, beyond compare, 
 And ask in wonder what is man's fate ? 
 Has he blissful future state? 
 
 . 'T 
 
 Creations of the Divine hand 
 Tell us above all worlds doth tow'r 
 The King of Kings with sovereign pow'r, 
 Where e'er He wills dispersing night, 
 Guiding the worlds in their swift flight. 
 
 Ay, man reads in the rocks, the hills, each blade 
 
 of grass, 
 The flower, the murmuring stream, the truth 
 
 personified 
 "Futurity" for they the just, the pure, the 
 
 glorified. 
 
 Thus man lives on and on, 
 Prophetic of the robe, the crown, 
 Sublimities which have no bound, 
 The Jasper walls, the Heavenly throne, 
 The universe's foundation stone. 
 
 52 
 
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 songs to nature 
 
 In commune, 
 Now hush their lays, 
 
 Seek silent rest 
 Within their downy, 
 
 Leafy nests. 
 
 Soft falls the night 
 
 The starry hosts 
 Creep 'cross the dome 
 
 Like silent ghosts; 
 And on and 
 
 Like sheep they stray 
 Within their wake 
 
 Cast silvery rays. 
 
 53 
 
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. 
 
 54 
 
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