A. Ashburn, "Uncle Joe on Shakespeare" (1907)
Dat had a pop'lar name,
I recken eberybody
Hab heard ob his great fame.
He useter talk 'bout honor
An 'writ erbout hit's worth,
Said a good name wuz better
Dan enyting on earth.
Said houses, lands, an' all sich t'ings
Yas! I t'ink he took in cash,—
W'an't de objec' ob dis life,
He simply called 'em trash.
He eben went far 'nuff ter say.
An ' bout hit he wuz sho',
By takin' al' his wealth fum him
Yer couldn't make 'im po.'
"De precious jewel uv my sol'
Am ma name "he useter squall,
"An' him dat steals dat 'way fum me
Hab robbed me uv my all."
I hate ter spute dat gent'mun,
Er call to him to halt
Hits mighty strange fer me ter be
Wid him a findin' fault.
But ef he wuz libin' now
An' seen t'ings mov' erlong,
An' seen des what's a-gwine on,
He'd sing ernudder song.
Dat t'ing is dun been turned eroun',
De name am now de trash,
An' ter make one po' in dis good day
You're got ter steal his cash.
Published in The Voice of the Negro, July 1907