Carrie Law Morgan Figgs, "Poetic Pearls" (Full Text) (1920)
POETIC PEARLS
BY
CARRIE LAW MORGAN FIGGS
Copyright 1920
By Carrie Law Morgan Figgs
EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE PRESS
Jacksonville, Florida
CONTENTS
To my Mother
It's Hard to Keep a Good Man Down
After the Honey Moon
Why Slight the Working; Girls
The Bull Frog's Song
The Meanest Man on Earth
Cane Juice and 'Possum
Lamentations of a Deceived Woman
Tribute to the Business
Men of Jacksonville
The Negro Has Played His Part
Song Dedicated to the Heroines of Jericho
Easter Bells
A Jewel Pure and Bright
Save Your Pennies
Saturday Night
Elbowing
My Brother's Keeper
Hannah
In Loving Remembrance of My Father
Who Departed this Life April 15, 1911
Christ's Person
Welcome Address Delivered to the Seventh Quadrennial Session of Woman's
Mite Missionary Society Oct. 15, 1919
INTRODUCTION
It has been the great desire of my heart to scatter sunshine and contribute something
to the world.
Mine has not been a life of ease and pleasure, but toil and service.
I have given several years of service in the class room as a teacher and several years as Grand Most Ancient Matron of Heroines of Jericho, traveling and working among my people.
Hence it has been mine to observe much.
Therefore I am sending this little book out into the world.
I can not tell into whose hands this book may fall, but it is my sincere hope that every one who reads it will find something interesting and inspiring.
C. L. M. F.
THIS BOOK IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO MY MOTHER
POETIC PEARLS
TO MY MOTHER
Mother, the queenliest woman on earth,
Mother, the woman who gave me birth,
Mother, you made of me all that I am,
You fashioned my life by your own plan.
I notice, dear mother, your hair turning gray,
But your voice is the same as it was yesterday;
Your eyes are as kind and your smiles are as sweet
As they were when I knelt years ago at your feet.
When storms rage around me and troubles roll high,
As of old, to your sheltering arms I fly;
You give me advice that I can't get from another,
Except Jesus, who is there on earth like a mother?
IT'S HARD TO KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN
The storm may rage, the wind may blow
And beat him to the ground,
But one of the hardest things on earth to do
Is to keep a good man down.
He may be white, he may be black,
He may be red or brown;
He'll dodge your blow and grow and go,
Because you can't keep a good man down.
Sometimes he can hardly lift his head,
Oppression is his crown,
But when his heart is right God gives him light,
And the world can't keep him down.
Friends may prove false, enemies succeed
In building a mighty mound
Of treachery and slander,
But none of these can hold a good man down.
This is a truth that friend and foe
Alike have sought and found,
Regardless of what comes or go,
You can't keep a good man down.
AFTER THE HONEYMOON
Said Johnnie Jenkins to his wife:
Good Evening, is it late?
You know it is, she hotly cried,
Why now, it's half-past eight.
Says he, I am awful hungry, Jane,
Make haste and fix my supper;
"Your supper? Why there's none to fix,
Nothing here but bread and butter."
But where's those groceries, Jane, says he,
I bought the other day?
"Pshaw! You talk like a crazy man,
Can fifty cents worth last always?"
I don't like this way you are acting, Jane,
You are entirely too extravagant,
As late as 'tis, now I must go
And hunt a restaurant.
I am not used to cheap living, John,
At home we had a-plenty,
You know that I had all heart could wish
Till I was more than twenty.
He scratched his head and gave a sigh,
While at her he madly stared,
You waste my labor as if though
I was a millionaire.
Remember I am a poor man's son,
What I get comes from my muscle,
And if things here don't make a change
By Jove, you'll have to hustle.
I thought that when I married you
'Twould better my condition,
But fifty cents a wek is worse
Than a preacher on a mission.
So I can leave you and this hut
And go back to my mother;
Says he: Well, here's your railroad fare,
For I am tired of so much bother.
WHY SLIGHT THE WORKING GIRL?
I wish some one would tell me
Why the working girl is slighted?
She may be as good as Virgin Mary,
But to grand affairs she's not invited.
She works for an honest living,
She appears both clean and neat,
But when the (so-called) best men meet her
They snub her on the street.
They'll see her coming up the street,
They'll stare her in the face,
Perhaps they'll speak,
But to lift their hats they consider it a disgrace.
Every girl hasn't had the same chance,
Some come from humble homes,
But they are just as pure and womanly
As queens upon their thrones.
Does it make her any smaller
Because she must work and face the world ?
If her character is good, don't slight her
Because she's a working girl.
Ofttimes she is a jewel,
Sometimes a valued pearl,
Just give her a chance to prove it,
And don't slight her, because she is a working girl.
THE BULL FROG'S SONG
On a stormy September morning,
When first I heard the song,
It echoed through the village streets,
As if from a mighty throng.
I caught it from the stable yard,
It sounded through my room,
I hastened up, threw on my gown,
As if wrapped in a magic swoon.
A big frog seemed to sing the bass,
Another sang the tenor,
While dozens rang the alto's part,
Hundreds led the soprano.
I stood there like some one amazed,
Till my brain began to tire,
From listening to this wonderous song.
Sung by the woodland choir.
(This poem was written when the writer was 14 years of age.)
THE MEANEST MAN ON EARTH
You may talk about highwaymen
And of men of lowly birth,
But the man who robs a woman
Is the meanest man on earth.
He may steal gold and silver,
He may steal jewels rare,
He may steal crowns and kingdoms,
But nothing can compare
To a man who robs a woman
Of all that she holds dear.
She might be maid or matron,
She might be young or old,
She might be as poor as Lazarus,
Or she might have tons of gold,
She might be of the royalty,
Or she might be of humble birth,
But the man who steals her honor
Is the meanest man on earth.
There is a man who looks for goodness,
And then casts it to the wind,
There is a man who smiles like an angel
And his heart is as black as sin,
He seeks and finds the best home,
Where all is joy and mirth,
He steals the sacred treasure,
He is the meanest man on earth.
This mean man ought to be dealt with
By legal and social laws,
He is more poisonous than the cobra,
Like the tiger he has claws,
Drive him from society,
In jail give him a berth,
Because the man who robs a woman
Is the meanest man on earth.
CANE JUICE AND 'POSSUM
(Dialect)
Who is dat out dar knocking?
Why, I am fixing to go to bed,
No, I ain't undressed,
But I got my close off, combing my head.
Say you got sump'n to tell me?
Well' won't dat sump'n keep?
No, I ain't so tired,
But I want to go to sleep.
Didn't quite understan' you,
You got cane juice and 'possum, too?
Whar is you gwine, Sammy?
You know I was teasin' to see what you would do.
You quit cuttin' up out dar, Sam,
And come on in dis house;
You is jest a great big ole sweet baby
Out dar trying to pout.
My, whar did you git dis 'possum?
He's jest as fat as butter,
And dis good old cold sweet cane juice,
Right fresh from de gutter?
Sam, I always did like you,
'Cause I knowed dat you liked me,
And you've proved your love for me tonight
By climbin' dat simmon tree.
And fetchin' me dis 'possum
Over here in all dis cole,
You bet your Jife I'll be your wife,
'Cause you is worth your weight in gole.
LAMENTATIONS OF A DECEIVED WOMAN
You have robbed me of virtue,
You've robbed me of fame,
You have stolen my innocence
And put me to shame;
Your smiles and your lies
Just took hold of my heart
And forced me from honor
And goodness to part.
Oh, why did I meet you?
Oh, why was I born?
Why didn't I die
On that bright July morn?
When you swore your protection
And promised your love,
I believed you as true
As an angel above.
You plead with your lips,
Then you plead with your eyes,
On your knees you beseeched me
In a lover's pure guise;
With your arms you embraced meta
You held me so tight,
Til I forgot all the world
In that moment of delight.
I loved you, but now I hate you,
Look there at my child;
You deny it your name
And the thought drives me wild;
I am forsakened by friends,
I have been driven from home,
With my child I am an outcast,
In this cold world alone.
O, God, you forgive.
Please help me to forgive
This man who has robbed me
Of all that life gives,
Of beauty and honor.
Of joy and of mirth,
And has made me the most
Miserable woman on earth.
TRIBUTE TO THE BUSINESS MEN OF JACKSONVILLE
If you ever visit Florida,
Pray don't miss Jacksonville;
It is the place of all places,
Where the Negro has climbed the hill.
There is a bunch of business men there
Who really make things hum,
A. L. Lewis., J. H. Blodgett,
And Charles H. Anderson.
W. J. Geter, B. C. Vanderhorst,
And W. W. Parker, too,
Joe James and son and J. S. McLane,
And Belton on Florida Avenue.
There's Abbott with his book store,
Walker with his business college,
Don't forget the People's Drug Store,
And Pratt filed with embalming knowledge.
They have some business women, too,
Mrs. Madison Williams on the hill,
On Broad street Mrs. Kirkpatrick,
Mrs. Sumpter and Mrs. McGill.
Then come to the professions,
Such as doctors, lawyers and teachers,
They have them by the dozens,
And scores of excellent preachers.
THE NEGRO HAS PLAYED HIS PART
When the days were cold and dreary,
And America's future was looking dark,
Her black son marched forth with his gun,
And boldly played his part.
He crossed the mighty ocean,
He feared neither gas nor poisoned dart,
He wrote his name on the scroll of fame,
And like other men played his part.
In every war that this country's been
Blood dripped from the Negro's loyal heart.
At Bunker Hill, Ocean Pond, San Juan and Carrizal
He certainly played his part.
Not only is he a fighter,
He has a place in poetry, music and art,
Dunbar, Johnson and Tanner have proven
That the Negro has played his part.
Then he yearned for education
Of hand and head and heart,
Mary Bethune and Booker Washington tell us
That in literature he plays his part.
Today finds him progressive,
No more content with that ox cart,
He motors his ear to his store or hazk
And in commerce plays his part.
America, dear America,
Mother of all Americans thou art,
You need not grieve, your black boy won't leave,
He's going to stay and continue to do his part.
SONG DEDICATED TO THE HEROINES OF JERICHO
(Tune: America)
Heroines strong are we,
Sisters of Masons free,
Men of God's love;
Fighting for truth and right,
Walking in love's clear light,
Trusting for strength and might,
Our God above.
Being true, we can not fall,
He will uphold us all
With his strong arm;
Then let us march and pray,
Walk with Him day by day,
He'll safely lead the way,
Keep us from harm.
Heroines strong and bold,
Like heroines of old,
Rahab and Ruth,
We are a valiant band
Marching to glory land
Led by the guiding hand
Of Christ the truth.
EASTER BELLS
Hark! What sound is this I hear?
Such music it foretells,
The sound is soft, but sweet and clear,
It must be Easter bells.
They ring and tell of Christ the Lord,
Who conquered death and hell,
Then rose up to his blest above,
Wonderful Easter bells.
Sweet bells, your music fills my soul
And wraps me in a spell,
Your wondrous peals like ocean's roll,
Oh! magical Easter bells.
Ring on, sweet bells,
Ring loud and clear,
Help men to understand
That Jesus Christ our Saviour dear
Broke death's cold iron band.
Tell them "He rose just as He said,"
Spread it o'er vale and dell,
The joyful tidings onward spread,
Ye heaven sent Easter bells.
Let every heart rejoice today,
And crush in sin's hard shell,
And raise to heaven a joyous lay,
As do these chiming Easter bells.
Ring on, sweet bells, ring more and more
And hold me in your spell,
Until I reach that shining shore
Where rings everlasting Easter bells.
A JEWEL PURE AND BRIGHT
Live so that the world will need you,
Daily tread the path of light,
Keep a bag of sunshine with you,
Be a jewel pure and bright.
Sow your seeds of sunshine hourly,
They'll lodge in the proper spot;
And while thus you plant your sunshine
You make easier some one's lot.
If a man, don't be a makeshift,
Be a man, stand in the light,
Do the things that conscience tells you,
Show the world that you can do right.
Never shirk or jump from duty,
Walk right in and bear your part,
Help a brother lift his burden,
And ofttimes you heal a bleeding heart.
If a woman, be a woman,
Walk the path of truth and right,
Crown your life with priceless virtue,
And be a jewel pure and bright.
Don't stop to look for temptations,
They'll be thick on every hand ;
Watch your step and press on forward,
For truth and goodness take a stand.
And while thus you stand on duty,
Watch the faces in the line;
When you see a sister faltering,
Catch her, clasp her hand in thine.
Always keep your bag of sunshine,
Sow the seeds both day and night,
And you'll help to make the world
A garden of jewels pure and bright.
SAVE YOUR PENNIES
Listen, boys, I want to tell you,
While to you I have the chance to speak,
While you are in the bloom of childhood,
While the rose blooms in your cheek,
Be not idle, be not wasteful,
But be diligent instead,
Save your pennies, they'll make dollars,
Listen, boys, to, what I've said.
Thrift and energy linked with labor
Are sure to bring a just reward,
Round by round "you mount a ladder,”
Step by step you cross a road,
Then let sun rise find you stirring,
Let morning breezes fan your head,
And save your pennies, they'll make dollars,
Hear me, for that's what I said.
If you stand alone, stand in your manhood,
Stand for justice and for right,
Goodness clads a man with honor,
Money clothes a man with might;
Then if you see a brother sinking,
Save him, help him lift his head,
Show that you've a heart within you,
Filled with love, that's what I said.
SATURDAY NIGHT
(Dialect)
I jes can't stan' it no longer,
I want to ask is you losin' yo' mine?
Does you t'ink dat I is crazy?
Or does you t'ink dat I is bline?
I kin count money jest as good as you kin,
You only gim me eight dollars,
And try to make me b'l'eve it's ten.
Whut you done wid dem other two dollars, man?
You can't fool me, I done heerd 'bout your plan,
You git it or I'll disgrace you sho,
And you won't set on dat deacon's bench no mo.
You loss it? You nedn't start dat bluff,
I done heerd dat ole song long enough,
Every Saddy night you comes up short
Wid a blame long face and a game o' talk.
De man didn't pay you, or he is out o' town,
Or wor kgot scarce and dey cut wages down,
I knows all about it, an' you know whut follers,
So you jest better git me dem other two dollars.
How's you gwine ter git it ? I ought to ask you,
You knows whar it is, an' I does, too,
But if dat money dont' come in sight,
Man, you won't sleep, in dis house tonight.
Whut you say? Now you know I ain't skeered o 'you,
If I wuz I'd be dead, and buried ,too,
But dey aint no use o' all dis talk,
Git me dat money or take your clothes and walk.
'Cause I can work for myself and chillun, too,
To take your foolishness, I don't have it to do,
You found it, eh? Well, I's mighty glad,
'Cause I jest begin to feel myself gittin' mad.
ELBOWING
Please let me pass, I am in a hurry,
My gracious, such a great crowd,
It is now half-past seven,
I hear the town clock striking aloud.
Let you pass? Why, who's holding you?
Just elbow your way through the crowd,
Everybody here is in a hurry,
And nobody murmurs aloud.
If you stand back and wait for a clearing,
While everybody else elbows his way,
You'll never get to your office,
You'll stand on this corner all day.
But I don't like to jostle the ladies,
And I don't like to squeeze between men,
But I must get away from this corner,
Hark! I hear the clock striking again.
Everybody is in a great hurry,
No one notices while you stand there,
Each one elbows his way to a clearing,
Each one hurries to get him a share.
This world is a great busy thoroughfare,
To succeed you must elbow your way,
If you wait for success to come to you,
You'll wait there and die in dismay.
MY BROTHER'S KEEPER
Yes, I am my brother's keeper,
I am to help him bear his load,
I am to help him bridge the chasm,
I am to help him build his road.
I am to cheer him when he is weary,
I am to help him on his way,
I am to change his tears to gladness,
I am to help him turn his night to day.
When his sky is thick and cloudy,
Fringed with darkness, doubt and fear,
When the world seems black around him,
‘Tis my duty to be near.
I must lend a ray of sunshine,
I must give a word of cheer,
I must make his pathway brighter,
I must make his sky more clear.
HANNAH
Say, did you ever see Hannah?
She is the prettiest girl in town.
She is not white, red or yellow,
But she is a tantalizing brown.
Her eyes are like a charcoal,
Her teeth like finest pearls,
Her smiles are like the dew-drops,
Her hair, soft, lustrous curls.
When she goes to church on Sunday
She's the center of attraction,
All eyes are fixed upon her,
From the parson to the sexton.
She is the leader of the choir.
You just ought to hear her sing,
And I believe that you'd agree with me
That she is an angel without wings.
When the preacher calls for joiners,
Hannah stands up and sings
"For you I am praying,”
Til she makes the welkin ring,
And even the hardest sinner
Can not withstand that voice,
He rushes to the mercy seat
And makes the church his choice.
You ought to go to Hannah's house,
Everything shines like a pin,
Front room, bed room and kitchen,
Alike they all are clean,
She meets you at the front door,
With a smile and gentle manner;
And it puts your heart to thumping
Just to get to speak to Hannah.
IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF MY FATHER, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE APRIL 15th, 1911
Dear father, thou hast left us here,
In this world of sorrow, pain and crime,
For thee w eshed the orphan's tear,
And God alone our wounds can bind.
Our love for thee can never die,
Thy memory we will e'er adore,
O, sainted one, watch from on high,
Till time shall cease and be no more.
Watch for the five thou hast left behind,
‘Til death shall bring us all to thee,
Some day, I do not know the time,
We, too, must cross the mystic sea.
Somewhere beyond "the vale of tears,"
I do not know just where 'twill be,
But where God lives through endless years
With the I'll spend eternity.
Sleep on, 0, sainted one, sleep on.
We know thou art sleeping with the blest,
For thy labors thou hast won a crown,
So sleep, dear father, take thy rest.
CHRIST'S PERSON
(Written for and accepted by the A. M. E. Church Review, October Number, 1917)
“The fairest among ten thousand altogether lovely" is perhaps the sanest description of the personality of Christ that language can express.
Being altogether lovely is snyonymous to being completely lovely, perfect in this, attainment without possible improvement.
While being superlatively fair he again transcend 3 the sphere of human conception and soars into the realms of that infinite wisdom reserved only for the Gods, for truly Christ is the Son of God.
Science tells us that in the attempted classification of objects or qualities the mind is incapable of comprehension unless there is a comparing object of known characteristics.
Since there are no other beings save the Divine Trinity that possess such personal characteristics, all efforts of a description of Christ's personal qualities can but fail.
The fall of man in the Garden of Eden through disobedience necessitated the descension of Christ to earth to redeem man
from his lost state. Preparatory to his coming men were divinely inspired to prophesy the future birth of a promised Messiah. Chief among these was Isaiah, who nine hundred years prior thereto, in an effort to set before the world a true conception of his majesty, thus proclaims: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
Wonderful beyond human comprehension for the power to know Christ must come from above, for thus said Christ unto Peter when Peter declared thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. "Flesh and blood did not reveal this unto you." Counsellor, a friendly advisor, telling to us what to do, why we should and how to do his command. Even here is he wonderful, for so great and complete is his friendship that he counted his own life not dearer to him than his friends.
The mighty God, having power over all creation, in heaven, on earth and over hell. The everlasting Father, unlimited in time, a
father whose duration outstrips time and eternity. Yet through his matchless love, in perfect obedience, he descnds from his great white throne and became subject to the laws of earth, even to the law of condemnation imposed upon man pursuant to his disobedience, and died the ignominous death of the cross that man might be saved.
The Immaculate Christ, in his sublime divinity, is without physical personality, for God is a spirit, possessing a spiritual body, complete in all that is essential in true divinity.
Thus may I conclude with this assertion, so pure, so perfect, so holy and divine is Christ that language is incapable of conveying to us a true picture of His personality, nor can human wisdom conceive its wondrous beauty and perfection.
For beauty there is none like him,
For strength there is none so strong,
His presence drives sin out of us,
And turns our grief to song.
For love, who can with him compare
With the great love he has shown ?
He laid aside his royal crown
And descended from his throne.
He came to earth, He bled and died
On rugged Calvarys tree,
He took the contract, paid the price
With His blood and made us free.
WELCOME ADDRESS DELIVERED TO THE SEVENTH QUADRENNIAL SESSION OF WOMAN'S MITE MISSIONARY SOCIETY, OCT. 15th, 1919.
Mistress of Ceremonies, Honored Bishop, Distinguished Visitors, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am delighted to have this privilege to welcome you here tonight in behalf of the North Jacksonville District.
We have not come to tell you of obstacles and sorrows that confront us and thereby make you sad, but we have come with hearts filled with love to bring you greetings and to tell you how welcome you are in our midst and if possible make you glad that you came to the Land of Sunshine and Roses. It is our intention, ladies and gentlemen, to see to it that while you sojourn here among us that your stay be one of pleasure.
It cheers the heart of a stranger to recive a cordial welcome.
People have been exchanging visits with each other and extending and acepting words of welcome ever since way back in the early ages of the world.
When Magda, the Queen of Sheba, visited Solomon, he greeted her with words of welcome, such as she had never heard before.
When Ruth left the land of Moab, the land of her nativity and went with her mother-in-law, Naomi, to live in Judah she was welcomed heartily by the people of Judah and doubly "welcomed by Boaz in whose field she gleaned, and who later became her husband.
When Esther, the Jewish maiden, who was made Queen of Persia, and who risked her life to enter uninvited the court of Ahaseurus to visit him and to plead for her people, was made to rejoice, because of the welcome accorded her by the king when he extended to her the golden scetper and bade her to make
her wishes known and that they should be granted even unto the half of his kingdom.
We have no kingdom to offer or lay at your disposal, but we have many other things of which we are justly proud and in behalf of the North Jacksonville District I am happy to say to you that to all of these you are welcome.
We are glad to have you here to see the wonderful achievements that we have made, morally, intellectually, financially and spiritually.
Under the leadership of our distinguished, intelligent, dignified Christian bishop, the Right Revernd John Hurst, the general of the Eleventh Episcopal District, who has been so nobly supported by these gallant, untiring, unselfish, ever-ready presiding elders, pastors and laymen, we have brought things
to pass and our fondest dreams have been realized, and if you doubt my statements, all that you need to do is to look about you, see this, Mt. Zion Church, see Edward Waters College, see the report for missions and other things, and you will agree with me that you are being welcomed by a great people of a great church in a great district, the greatest district in all Florida, presided over by one of the most scholarly presiding elders in the entire connection in the person of Dr. Daniel M. Baxter.
So, again, I want to say to you that:
You are welcome, yes, indeed, you are,
Welcome as the morning star
Was to the wise men of the East
When they sought for the Prince of Peace.
You are as welcome as the breeze of May,
You are as welcome as a summer day,
You are as welcome as the birds that sing,
You are as welcome as the flowers of spring.
We welcome you because you are
Moral and spiritual guiding stars,
Lifting others as you climb,
To heights above sin, shame and crime.
Because you are helping to mold and make
Better men and women for humanity's sake,
Because like giants you've taken a stand
To fight down wrong where'er you can.
Because you fear neither heat nor cold,
Because you are Christians strong and bold,
Because you've heard the heathen's cry,
Because you've answered, "Here am I."
Because you know no east or west,
Because you are striving to do your best,
Because you are treading the path our Savior trod,
Because we are all children of the living God.
You are welcome to our glad sunshine,
You are welcome to our corn and wine,
You are welcome to our milk and honey,
And you are welcome even to our money.
You are welcome to our broad, clean streets,
You are welcome to our bread and meats,
And if cooked food fails your taste to suit,
You are welcome to our groves of fruit.
Oranges, mangoes, lemons, grapes and limes,
Sugar apples, paupaus and apples called pines,
Sea grapes, cocoanuts and bananas not a few,
Alvacado pears, plums and guavas, too.
To food and shelter, to carriage and car,
To all that we have you are welcome, yes, you are,
Now, if there is aught in my welcome left unsaid,
Charge it not to the heart, please, but charge it to the head.
Because if each of us had a thousand tongues
We would gladly welcome you with every one,
So with hearts as pure as heaven's own dewy
In Jehovah's name we welcome you.