David C. Lee, "Dem Tales Wot Gran-pa Tells" (1902)
Tell on ther time wen 'E
Wuz nuffin' but er litt'l Kid
Erbout ther size er Me.
'E sezs ez how dey didn't hab
'Lectricity in 'Is Day,
En dat de near'es Candy Sto '
Wuz more'n er mile erway.
En den 'E tells on how de Rebs
En Yank'es uster scrap.
Eh tells youse wat, Ise mouty glad
Dat ise got er "gran-pap"
Wat kin tell Me all de tings 'E's seed
Befo' 'E wus sot free,
Wen ' E wuz a litt'l Kid
Erbout ther size er Me.
'E sezs thet some day, wen Eh grows op,
En gits Ole en gray laik 'E,
Thet maybe ma litt'l boy 'E'll come
En sot up on Ma knee
Ter lissen ter them Tales Eh tells
(Wonder ef et evah be?)
'Bout wen Eh wuz er litt'l Kid
Erbout ther size er 'E.
But Eh wont hab no Tales ter tell
'Bout "Slavey" days! dats "Ded",
But Eh kin taik Hims on Ma knee,
En pat "Is Kinky Hed"
Published in Colored American Magazine, October 1902