African American Poetry: A Digital Anthology

Claude McKay, "Lub O' Mine" (1912)

DARLIN', though you lub me still,
   I feel it so,
To t'ink dat we neber will
   Meet soon, you know; 

Eben when you tell me say
   Dat your dear heart
Did grow 'tronger ebery day
   An' hate fe part. 

Feelin' all you' lub for me,
   I t'ink you press
Your heart, as it use' to be,
   Upon me breas'. 

Lubin' you wid all me soul,
   De lub is such
Dat it beat out blood, -- de whole,
   An' dat is much. 

Lubin' you as you go 'long
   In a you walk;
Also when you chune a song,
   An' as you talk. 

An' a so I hate fe see
   You go astray 
In those t'ings dat you and me
   Can cast away. 

Lub, I dyin' fe you' smile,
   An' some sweet news
Dat can cheer me heart awhile
   Fe wha' it lose. 

Lub me, darlin' -- lub, aldough
   You are now gone:
You can never leave me so --
   Friendless-alone.  


Published in Songs of Jamaica, 1912

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