Katherine D. Tillman, "Black and White" (1902)
Two little ones played by the roadside green,
And an artist smiled at the pretty scene,
Laugh they aloud in pure delight,
Two little boys, one black, one white.
Two little fishermen idle away
The precious hours of one school day,
Trying in vain to get a bite,
Two little boys, One black, one white.
Two little truants homeward bent,
But there, alas, supperless sent
Straight off to bed, in broad daylight,
Two little boys, one black, one white.
Two little heads over hard lessons bend,
Wishing the goblin king might send
Some elf to take teacher away,
While they ran off to have their play.
Two little friends very loyal to each other,
Give to their mothers no ends of brother,
Must be together, both day and night,
Two little boys, one black, one white.
Two little boys kneel by the bed,
And somewhat sleepily prayers are said.
Angels bear to the throne of light,
Two little boys, one black, one white.
But, alas, when these two are men,
Where will be their old friendship then?
Will the white man give to the black man his right?
And will they still be friends, one black, one white?
Published in Tillman's Recitations, 1902