African American Poetry (1870-1928): A Digital Anthology

Lewis Alexander, "Bought Sense" (1928)

Ma woman don' love me
De gypsy she done tol' me so.
Ma woman don' love me
De gypsy she done tol' me so.
Lawd what is ah goin' to do?
Tell me, Lawd 'cause ah don' know.

Ah goes to ma woman
Says baby what you goin' to do?
Ah goes to ma woman
Says baby what you goin' to do?
She says, use to be daddy
Your use to be mama's through.

Ah gits down on my knees
And cries aloud.
Ah gits down on my knees
And cries aloud.
Says, gal if you don' stay here
You sho is goin' to wear a shroud.

I don' cry for no
Black gal but once.
No suh, really don' cry for no
Black gal but once.
If you don' think ah mean it
You jes take me for a dunce.

Love, oh love,
You sho can't force it, 'at's no stuff.
Love, oh love,
You sho can't git it when you're ruff.
But wif a little 'spression
You can always git enuf.

Look here bran new woman
What's dis here you're passin' out?
Look here bran new woman
What's dis here you're passin' out?
Ah'll stay from work tomorrow
And find out what its all about.


Published in Carolina Magazine, May 1928

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