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

Paul Laurence Dunbar, "Lyrics of the Hearthside" (Full text) (1904)

LOVE'S APOTHEOSIS

  Love me. I care not what the circling years
        To me may do.
  If, but in spite of time and tears,
        You prove but true.

  Love me--albeit grief shall dim mine eyes,
        And tears bedew,
  I shall not e'en complain, for then my skies
        Shall still be blue.

  Love me, and though the winter snow shall pile,
        And leave me chill,
  Thy passion's warmth shall make for me, meanwhile,
        A sun-kissed hill.

  And when the days have lengthened into years,
        And I grow old,
  Oh, spite of pains and griefs and cares and fears,
        Grow thou not cold.

  Then hand and hand we shall pass up the hill,
        I say not down;
  That twain go up, of love, who 've loved their fill,--
        To gain love's crown.

  Love me, and let my life take up thine own,
        As sun the dew.
  Come, sit, my queen, for in my heart a throne
        Awaits for you!


THE PARADOX

  I am the mother of sorrows,
    I am the ender of grief;
  I am the bud and the blossom,
    I am the late-falling leaf.

  I am thy priest and thy poet,
    I am thy serf and thy king;
  I cure the tears of the heartsick,
    When I come near they shall sing.

  White are my hands as the snowdrop;
    Swart are my fingers as clay;
  Dark is my frown as the midnight,
    Fair is my brow as the day.

  Battle and war are my minions,
    Doing my will as divine;
  I am the calmer of passions,
    Peace is a nursling of mine.

  Speak to me gently or curse me,
    Seek me or fly from my sight;
  I am thy fool in the morning,
    Thou art my slave in the night.

  Down to the grave will I take thee,
    Out from the noise of the strife;
  Then shalt thou see me and know me--
    Death, then, no longer, but life.

  Then shalt thou sing at my coming.
    Kiss me with passionate breath,
  Clasp me and smile to have thought me
    Aught save the foeman of Death.

  Come to me, brother, when weary,
    Come when thy lonely heart swells;
  I 'll guide thy footsteps and lead thee
    Down where the Dream Woman dwells.


OVER THE HILLS

  Over the hills and the valleys of dreaming
    Slowly I take my way.
  Life is the night with its dream-visions teeming,
    Death is the waking at day.

  Down thro' the dales and the bowers of loving,
    Singing, I roam afar.
  Daytime or night-time, I constantly roving,--
    Dearest one, thou art my star.


WITH THE LARK

  Night is for sorrow and dawn is for joy,
  Chasing the troubles that fret and annoy;
  Darkness for sighing and daylight for song,--
  Cheery and chaste the strain, heartfelt and strong.
  All the night through, though I moan in the dark,
  I wake in the morning to sing with the lark.

  Deep in the midnight the rain whips the leaves,
  Softly and sadly the wood-spirit grieves.
  But when the first hue of dawn tints the sky,
  I shall shake out my wings like the birds and be dry;
  And though, like the rain-drops, I grieved through the dark,
  I shall wake in the morning to sing with the lark.

  On the high hills of heaven, some morning to be,
  Where the rain shall not grieve thro' the leaves of the tree,
  There my heart will be glad for the pain I have known,
  For my hand will be clasped in the hand of mine own;
  And though life has been hard and death's pathway been dark,
  I shall wake in the morning to sing with the lark.


IN SUMMER

  Oh, summer has clothed the earth
    In a cloak from the loom of the sun!
  And a mantle, too, of the skies' soft blue,
    And a belt where the rivers run.

  And now for the kiss of the wind,
    And the touch of the air's soft hands,
  With the rest from strife and the heat of life,
    With the freedom of lakes and lands.

  I envy the farmer's boy
    Who sings as he follows the plow;
  While the shining green of the young blades lean
    To the breezes that cool his brow.

  He sings to the dewy morn,
    No thought of another's ear;
  But the song he sings is a chant for kings
    And the whole wide world to hear.

  He sings of the joys of life,
    Of the pleasures of work and rest,
  From an o'erfull heart, without aim or art;
  'T is a song of the merriest.

  O ye who toil in the town,
    And ye who moil in the mart,
  Hear the artless song, and your faith made strong
    Shall renew your joy of heart.

  Oh, poor were the worth of the world
    If never a song were heard,--
  If the sting of grief had no relief,
    And never a heart were stirred.

  So, long as the streams run down,
    And as long as the robins trill,
  Let us taunt old Care with a merry air,
    And sing in the face of ill.


THE MYSTIC SEA

  The smell of the sea in my nostrils,
    The sound of the sea in mine ears;
  The touch of the spray on my burning face,
    Like the mist of reluctant tears.

  The blue of the sky above me,
    The green of the waves beneath;
  The sun flashing down on a gray-white sail
    Like a scimitar from its sheath.

  And ever the breaking billows,
    And ever the rocks' disdain;
  And ever a thrill in mine inmost heart
    That my reason cannot explain.

  So I say to my heart, "Be silent,
    The mystery of time is here;
  Death's way will be plain when we fathom the main,
    And the secret of life be clear."


A SAILOR'S SONG

  Oh for the breath of the briny deep,
  And the tug of the bellying sail,
  With the sea-gull's cry across the sky
  And a passing boatman's hail.
  For, be she fierce or be she gay,
  The sea is a famous friend alway.

  Ho! for the plains where the dolphins play,
  And the bend of the mast and spars,
  And a fight at night with the wild sea-sprite
  When the foam has drowned the stars.
  And, pray, what joy can the landsman feel
  Like the rise and fall of a sliding keel?

  Fair is the mead; the lawn is fair
  And the birds sing sweet on the lea;
  But the echo soft of a song aloft
  Is the strain that pleases me;
  And swish of rope and ring of chain
  Are music to men who sail the main.

  Then, if you love me, let me sail
  While a vessel dares the deep;
  For the ship 's my wife, and the breath of life
  Are the raging gales that sweep;
  And when I 'm done with calm and blast,
  A slide o'er the side, and rest at last.


THE BOHEMIAN

  Bring me the livery of no other man.
    I am my own to robe me at my pleasure.
    Accepted rules to me disclose no treasure:
  What is the chief who shall my garments plan?
    No garb conventional but I 'll attack it.
    (Come, why not don my spangled jacket?)


ABSENCE

  Good-night, my love, for I have dreamed of thee
  In waking dreams, until my soul is lost--
  Is lost in passion's wide and shoreless sea,
  Where, like a ship, unruddered, it is tost
  Hither and thither at the wild waves' will.
  There is no potent Master's voice to still
  This newer, more tempestuous Galilee!

  The stormy petrels of my fancy fly
  In warning course across the darkening green,
  And, like a frightened bird, my heart doth cry
  And seek to find some rock of rest between
  The threatening sky and the relentless wave.
  It is not length of life that grief doth crave,
  But only calm and peace in which to die.

  Here let me rest upon this single hope,
  For oh, my wings are weary of the wind,
  And with its stress no more may strive or cope.
  One cry has dulled mine ears, mine eyes are blind,--
  Would that o'er all the intervening space,
  I might fly forth and see thee face to face.
  I fly; I search, but, love, in gloom I grope.

  Fly home, far bird, unto thy waiting nest;
  Spread thy strong wings above the wind-swept sea.
  Beat the grim breeze with thy unruffled breast
  Until thou sittest wing to wing with me.
  Then, let the past bring up its tales of wrong;
  We shall chant low our sweet connubial song,
  Till storm and doubt and past no more shall be!


HER THOUGHT AND HIS

  The gray of the sea, and the gray of the sky,
  A glimpse of the moon like a half-closed eye.
  The gleam on the waves and the light on the land,
  A thrill in my heart,--and--my sweetheart's hand.

  She turned from the sea with a woman's grace,
  And the light fell soft on her upturned face,
  And I thought of the flood-tide of infinite bliss
  That would flow to my heart from a single kiss.

  But my sweetheart was shy, so I dared not ask
  For the boon, so bravely I wore the mask.
  But into her face there came a flame:--
  I wonder could she have been thinking the same?


THE RIGHT TO DIE

  I have no fancy for that ancient cant
  That makes us masters of our destinies,
  And not our lives, to hold or give them up
  As will directs; I cannot, will not think
  That men, the subtle worms, who plot and plan
  And scheme and calculate with such shrewd wit,
  Are such great blund'ring fools as not to know
  When they have lived enough.
                               Men court not death
  When there are sweets still left in life to taste.
  Nor will a brave man choose to live when he,
  Full deeply drunk of life, has reached the dregs,
  And knows that now but bitterness remains.
  He is the coward who, outfaced in this,
  Fears the false goblins of another life.
  I honor him who being much harassed
  Drinks of sweet courage until drunk of it,--
  Then seizing Death, reluctant, by the hand,
  Leaps with him, fearless, to eternal peace!


BEHIND THE ARRAS

  As in some dim baronial hall restrained,
  A prisoner sits, engirt by secret doors
  And waving tapestries that argue forth
  Strange passages into the outer air;
  So in this dimmer room which we call life,
  Thus sits the soul and marks with eye intent
  That mystic curtain o'er the portal death;
  Still deeming that behind the arras lies
  The lambent way that leads to lasting light.
  Poor fooled and foolish soul! Know now that death
  Is but a blind, false door that nowhere leads,
  And gives no hope of exit final, free.


WHEN THE OLD MAN SMOKES

  In the forenoon's restful quiet,
    When the boys are off at school,
  When the window lights are shaded
    And the chimney-corner cool,
  Then the old man seeks his armchair,
    Lights his pipe and settles back;
  Falls a-dreaming as he draws it
    Till the smoke-wreaths gather black.

  And the tear-drops come a-trickling
    Down his cheeks, a silver flow--
  Smoke or memories you wonder,
    But you never ask him,--no;
  For there 's something almost sacred
    To the other family folks
  In those moods of silent dreaming
    When the old man smokes.

  Ah, perhaps he sits there dreaming
    Of the love of other days
  And of how he used to lead her
   Through the merry dance's maze;
  How he called her "little princess,"
    And, to please her, used to twine
  Tender wreaths to crown her tresses,
    From the "matrimony vine."

  Then before his mental vision
    Comes, perhaps, a sadder day,
  When they left his little princess
    Sleeping with her fellow clay.
  How his young heart throbbed, and pained him!
    Why, the memory of it chokes!
  Is it of these things he 's thinking
    When the old man smokes?

  But some brighter thoughts possess him,
    For the tears are dried the while.
  And the old, worn face is wrinkled
    In a reminiscent smile,
  From the middle of the forehead
    To the feebly trembling lip,
  At some ancient prank remembered
    Or some long unheard-of quip.

  Then the lips relax their tension
    And the pipe begins to slide,
  Till in little clouds of ashes,
    It falls softly at his side;
  And his head bends low and lower
    Till his chin lies on his breast,
  And he sits in peaceful slumber
    Like a little child at rest.

  Dear old man, there 's something sad'ning,
    In these dreamy moods of yours,
  Since the present proves so fleeting,
    All the past for you endures.
  Weeping at forgotten sorrows,
    Smiling at forgotten jokes;
  Life epitomized in minutes,
    When the old man smokes.


THE GARRET

  Within a London garret high,
  Above the roofs and near the sky,
  My ill-rewarding pen I ply
      To win me bread.
  This little chamber, six by four,
  Is castle, study, den, and more,--
  Altho' no carpet decks the floor,
      Nor down, the bed.

  My room is rather bleak and bare;
  I only have one broken chair,
  But then, there's plenty of fresh air,--
      Some light, beside.
  What tho' I cannot ask my friends
  To share with me my odds and ends,
  A liberty my aerie lends,
      To most denied.

  The bore who falters at the stair
  No more shall be my curse and care,
  And duns shall fail to find my lair
      With beastly bills.
  When debts have grown and funds are short,
  I find it rather pleasant sport
  To live "above the common sort"
      With all their ills.

  I write my rhymes and sing away,
  And dawn may come or dusk or day:
  Tho' fare be poor, my heart is gay.
      And full of glee.
  Though chimney-pots be all my views;
  'T is nearer for the winging Muse,
  So I am sure she 'll not refuse
      To visit me.


TO E. H. K.

ON THE RECEIPT OF A FAMILIAR POEM

  To me, like hauntings of a vagrant breath
    From some far forest which I once have known,
    The perfume of this flower of verse is blown.
  Tho' seemingly soul-blossoms faint to death,
  Naught that with joy she bears e'er withereth.
    So, tho' the pregnant years have come and flown,
  Lives come and gone and altered like mine own,
  This poem comes to me a shibboleth:
  Brings sound of past communings to my ear,
    Turns round the tide of time and bears me back
    Along an old and long untraversed way;
  Makes me forget this is a later year,
    Makes me tread o'er a reminiscent track,
      Half sad, half glad, to one forgotten day!


A BRIDAL MEASURE

  Come, essay a sprightly measure,
  Tuned to some light song of pleasure.
    Maidens, let your brows be crowned
    As we foot this merry round.

  From the ground a voice is singing,
  From the sod a soul is springing.
    Who shall say 't is but a clod
    Quick'ning upward toward its God?

  Who shall say it? Who may know it,
  That the clod is not a poet
    Waiting but a gleam to waken
    In a spirit music-shaken?

  Phyllis, Phyllis, why be waiting?
  In the woods the birds are mating.
    From the tree beside the wall,
    Hear the am'rous robin call.

  Listen to yon thrush's trilling;
  Phyllis, Phyllis, are you willing,
    When love speaks from cave and tree,
    Only we should silent be?

  When the year, itself renewing,
  All the world with flowers is strewing,
    Then through Youth's Arcadian land,
    Love and song go hand in hand.

  Come, unfold your vocal treasure,
  Sing with me a nuptial measure,--
    Let this springtime gambol be
    Bridal dance for you and me.


VENGEANCE IS SWEET

  When I was young I longed for Love,
  And held his glory far above
  All other earthly things. I cried:
  "Come, Love, dear Love, with me abide;"
  And with my subtlest art I wooed,
  And eagerly the wight pursued.
  But Love was gay and Love was shy,
  He laughed at me and passed me by.

  Well, I grew old and I grew gray,
  When Wealth came wending down my way.
  I took his golden hand with glee,
  And comrades from that day were we.
  Then Love came back with doleful face,
  And prayed that I would give him place.
  But, though his eyes with tears were dim,
  I turned my back and laughed at him.


A HYMN

AFTER READING "LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT."

  Lead gently, Lord, and slow,
    For oh, my steps are weak,
  And ever as I go,
    Some soothing sentence speak;

  That I may turn my face
    Through doubt's obscurity
  Toward thine abiding-place,
    E'en tho' I cannot see.

  For lo, the way is dark;
    Through mist and cloud I grope,
  Save for that fitful spark,
    The little flame of hope.

  Lead gently, Lord, and slow,
    For fear that I may fall;
  I know not where to go
    Unless I hear thy call.

  My fainting soul doth yearn
    For thy green hills afar;
  So let thy mercy burn--
    My greater, guiding star!


JUST WHISTLE A BIT

  Just whistle a bit, if the day be dark,
    And the sky be overcast:
  If mute be the voice of the piping lark,
    Why, pipe your own small blast.

  And it's wonderful how o'er the gray sky-track
  The truant warbler comes stealing back.
  But why need he come? for your soul's at rest,
  And the song in the heart,--ah, that is best.

  Just whistle a bit, if the night be drear
    And the stars refuse to shine:
  And a gleam that mocks the starlight clear
    Within you glows benign.

  Till the dearth of light in the glooming skies
  Is lost to the sight of your soul-lit eyes.
  What matters the absence of moon or star?
  The light within is the best by far.

  Just whistle a bit, if there 's work to do,
    With the mind or in the soil.
  And your note will turn out a talisman true
    To exorcise grim Toil.

  It will lighten your burden and make you feel
  That there 's nothing like work as a sauce for a meal.
  And with song in your heart and the meal in--its place,
  There 'll be joy in your bosom and light in your face.

  Just whistle a bit, if your heart be sore;
  'Tis a wonderful balm for pain.
  Just pipe some old melody o'er and o'er
    Till it soothes like summer rain.

  And perhaps 't would be best in a later day,
  When Death comes stalking down the way,
  To knock at your bosom and see if you 're fit,
  Then, as you wait calmly, just whistle a bit.


THE BARRIER

  The Midnight wooed the Morning-Star,
    And prayed her: "Love come nearer;
  Your swinging coldly there afar
    To me but makes you dearer!"

  The Morning-Star was pale with dole
    As said she, low replying:
  "Oh, lover mine, soul of my soul,
    For you I too am sighing.

  "But One ordained when we were born,
    In spite of Love's insistence,
  That Night might only view the Morn
    Adoring at a distance."

  But as she spoke the jealous Sun
    Across the heavens panted.
  "Oh, whining fools," he cried, "have done;
    Your wishes shall be granted!"

  He hurled his flaming lances far;
    The twain stood unaffrighted--
  And Midnight and the Morning-Star
    Lay down in death united!


DREAMS

  Dream on, for dreams are sweet:
    Do not awaken!
  Dream on, and at thy feet
    Pomegranates shall be shaken.

  Who likeneth the youth
    Of life to morning?
  'Tis like the night in truth,
    Rose-coloured dreams adorning.

  The wind is soft above,
    The shadows umber.
  (There is a dream called Love.)
    Take thou the fullest slumber!

  In Lethe's soothing stream,
    Thy thirst thou slakest.
  Sleep, sleep; 't is sweet to dream.
    Oh, weep when thou awakest!


THE DREAMER

  Temples he built and palaces of air,
    And, with the artist's parent-pride aglow,
    His fancy saw his vague ideals grow
  Into creations marvellously fair;

  He set his foot upon Fame's nether stair.
    But ah, his dream,--it had entranced him so
    He could not move. He could no farther go;
  But paused in joy that he was even there!

  He did not wake until one day there gleamed
    Thro' his dark consciousness a light that racked
  His being till he rose, alert to act.
  But lo! what he had dreamed, the while he dreamed,
    Another, wedding action unto thought,
    Into the living, pulsing world had brought.


WAITING

  The sun has slipped his tether
    And galloped down the west.
  (Oh, it's weary, weary waiting, love.)
  The little bird is sleeping
    In the softness of its nest.
  Night follows day, day follows dawn,
  And so the time has come and gone:
    And it's weary, weary waiting, love.

  The cruel wind is rising
    With a whistle and a wail.
  (And it's weary, weary waiting, love.)
  My eyes are seaward straining
    For the coming of a sail;
  But void the sea, and void the beach
  Far and beyond where gaze can reach!
    And it's weary, weary waiting, love.

  I heard the bell-buoy ringing--
    How long ago it seems!
  (Oh, it's weary, weary waiting, love.)
  And ever still, its knelling
    Crashes in upon my dreams.
  The banns were read, my frock was sewn;
  Since then two seasons' winds have blown--
    And it's weary, weary waiting, love.

  The stretches of the ocean
    Are bare and bleak to-day.
  (Oh, it's weary, weary waiting, love.)
  My eyes are growing dimmer--
    Is it tears, or age, or spray?
  But I will stay till you come home.
  Strange ships come in across the foam!
    But it's weary, weary waiting, love.


THE END OF THE CHAPTER

  Ah, yes, the chapter ends to-day;
  We even lay the book away;
  But oh, how sweet the moments sped
  Before the final page was read!

  We tried to read between the lines
  The Author's deep-concealed designs;
  But scant reward such search secures;
  You saw my heart and I saw yours.

  The Master,--He who penned the page
  And bade us read it,--He is sage:
  And what he orders, you and I
  Can but obey, nor question why.

  We read together and forgot
  The world about us. Time was not.
  Unheeded and unfelt, it fled.
  We read and hardly knew we read.

  Until beneath a sadder sun,
  We came to know the book was done.
  Then, as our minds were but new lit,
  It dawned upon us what was writ;

  And we were startled. In our eyes,
  Looked forth the light of great surprise.
  Then as a deep-toned tocsin tolls,
  A voice spoke forth: "Behold your souls!"

  I do, I do. I cannot look
  Into your eyes: so close the book.
  But brought it grief or brought it bliss,
  No other page shall read like this!


SYMPATHY

  I know what the caged bird feels, alas!
    When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
  When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
  And the river flows like a stream of glass;
    When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,
  And the faint perfume from its chalice steals--
  I know what the caged bird feels!

  I know why the caged bird beats his wing
    Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
  For he must fly back to his perch and cling
  When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
    And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars
  And they pulse again with a keener sting--
  I know why he beats his wing!

  I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
    When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,--
  When he beats his bars and he would be free;
  It is not a carol of joy or glee,
    But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core,
  But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings--
  I know why the caged bird sings!


LOVE AND GRIEF

  Out of my heart, one treach'rous winter's day,
  I locked young Love and threw the key away.
  Grief, wandering widely, found the key,
  And hastened with it, straightway, back to me,
  With Love beside him. He unlocked the door
  And bade Love enter with him there and stay.
  And so the twain abide for evermore.


LOVE'S CHASTENING

  Once Love grew bold and arrogant of air,
  Proud of the youth that made him fresh and fair;
  So unto Grief he spake, "What right hast thou
  To part or parcel of this heart?" Grief's brow
  Was darkened with the storm of inward strife;
  Thrice smote he Love as only he might dare,
  And Love, pride purged, was chastened all his life.


MORTALITY

  Ashes to ashes, dust unto dust,
  What of his loving, what of his lust?
  What of his passion, what of his pain?
  What of his poverty, what of his pride?
  Earth, the great mother, has called him again:
  Deeply he sleeps, the world's verdict defied.
  Shall he be tried again? Shall he go free?
  Who shall the court convene? Where shall it be?
  No answer on the land, none from the sea.
  Only we know that as he did, we must:
  You with your theories, you with your trust,--
  Ashes to ashes, dust unto dust!


LOVE

  A life was mine full of the close concern
    Of many-voiced affairs. The world sped fast;
    Behind me, ever rolled a pregnant past.
  A present came equipped with lore to learn.
  Art, science, letters, in their turn,
    Each one allured me with its treasures vast;
    And I staked all for wisdom, till at last
  Thou cam'st and taught my soul anew to yearn.
    I had not dreamed that I could turn away
  From all that men with brush and pen had wrought;
    But ever since that memorable day
  When to my heart the truth of love was brought,
    I have been wholly yielded to its sway,
  And had no room for any other thought.


SHE GAVE ME A ROSE

  She gave a rose,
    And I kissed it and pressed it.
  I love her, she knows,
    And my action confessed it.
  She gave me a rose,
    And I kissed it and pressed it.

  Ah, how my heart glows,
    Could I ever have guessed it?
  It is fair to suppose
    That I might have repressed it:
  She gave me a rose,
    And I kissed it and pressed it.

  'T was a rhyme in life's prose
    That uplifted and blest it.
  Man's nature, who knows
    Until love comes to test it?
  She gave me a rose,
    And I kissed it and pressed it.


DREAM SONG I

  Long years ago, within a distant clime,
  Ere Love had touched me with his wand sublime,
  I dreamed of one to make my life's calm May
  The panting passion of a summer's day.
  And ever since, in almost sad suspense,
  I have been waiting with a soul intense
  To greet and take unto myself the beams,
  Of her, my star, the lady of my dreams.

  O Love, still longed and looked for, come to me,
  Be thy far home by mountain, vale, or sea.
  My yearning heart may never find its rest
  Until thou liest rapt upon my breast.
  The wind may bring its perfume from the south,
  Is it so sweet as breath from my love's mouth?
  Oh, naught that surely is, and naught that seems
  May turn me from the lady of my dreams.


DREAM SONG II

  Pray, what can dreams avail
    To make love or to mar?
  The child within the cradle rail
    Lies dreaming of the star.
  But is the star by this beguiled
  To leave its place and seek the child?

  The poor plucked rose within its glass
    Still dreameth of the bee;
  But, tho' the lagging moments pass,
    Her Love she may not see.
  If dream of child and flower fail,
  Why should a maiden's dreams prevail?


CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART

  The snow lies deep upon the ground,
  And winter's brightness all around
  Decks bravely out the forest sere,
  With jewels of the brave old year.
  The coasting crowd upon the hill
  With some new spirit seems to thrill;
  And all the temple bells achime.
  Ring out the glee of Christmas time.

  In happy homes the brown oak-bough
  Vies with the red-gemmed holly now;
  And here and there, like pearls, there show
  The berries of the mistletoe.
  A sprig upon the chandelier
  Says to the maidens, "Come not here!"
  Even the pauper of the earth
  Some kindly gift has cheered to mirth!

  Within his chamber, dim and cold,
  There sits a grasping miser old.
  He has no thought save one of gain,--
  To grind and gather and grasp and drain.
  A peal of bells, a merry shout
  Assail his ear: he gazes out
  Upon a world to him all gray,
  And snarls, "Why, this is Christmas Day!"

  No, man of ice,--for shame, for shame!
  For "Christmas Day" is no mere name.
  No, not for you this ringing cheer,
  This festal season of the year.
  And not for you the chime of bells
  From holy temple rolls and swells.
  In day and deed he has no part--
  Who holds not Christmas in his heart!


THE KING IS DEAD

  Aye, lay him in his grave, the old dead year!
  His life is lived--fulfilled his destiny.
  Have you for him no sad, regretful tear
  To drop beside the cold, unfollowed bier?
  Can you not pay the tribute of a sigh?

  Was he not kind to you, this dead old year?
  Did he not give enough of earthly store?
  Enough of love, and laughter, and good cheer?
  Have not the skies you scanned sometimes been clear?
  How, then, of him who dies, could you ask more?

  It is not well to hate him for the pain
  He brought you, and the sorrows manifold.
  To pardon him these hurts still I am fain;
  For in the panting period of his reign,
  He brought me new wounds, but he healed the old.

  One little sigh for thee, my poor, dead friend--
  One little sigh while my companions sing.
  Thou art so soon forgotten in the end;
  We cry e'en as thy footsteps downward tend:
  "The king is dead! long live the king!"


THEOLOGY

  There is a heaven, for ever, day by day,
  The upward longing of my soul doth tell me so.
  There is a hell, I 'm quite as sure; for pray,
  If there were not, where would my neighbours go?


RESIGNATION

  Long had I grieved at what I deemed abuse;
    But now I am as grain within the mill.
  If so be thou must crush me for thy use,
    Grind on, O potent God, and do thy will!


LOVE'S HUMILITY

  As some rapt gazer on the lowly earth,
    Looks up to radiant planets, ranging far,
  So I, whose soul doth know thy wondrous worth
    Look longing up to thee as to a star.


PRECEDENT

  The poor man went to the rich man's doors,
  "I come as Lazarus came," he said.
  The rich man turned with humble head,--
  "I will send my dogs to lick your sores!"


SHE TOLD HER BEADS

  She told her beads with down-cast eyes,
    Within the ancient chapel dim;
    And ever as her fingers slim
  Slipt o'er th' insensate ivories,
  My rapt soul followed, spaniel-wise.
  Ah, many were the beads she wore;
    But as she told them o'er and o'er,
  They did not number all my sighs.
  My heart was filled with unvoiced cries
    And prayers and pleadings unexpressed;
    But while I burned with Love's unrest,
  She told her beads with down-cast eyes.


LITTLE LUCY LANDMAN

  Oh, the day has set me dreaming
    In a strange, half solemn way
  Of the feelings I experienced
    On another long past day,--
  Of the way my heart made music
    When the buds began to blow,
  And o' little Lucy Landman
    Whom I loved long years ago.

  It 's in spring, the poet tells us,
    That we turn to thoughts of love,
  And our hearts go out a-wooing
    With the lapwing and the dove.
  But whene'er the soul goes seeking
    Its twin-soul, upon the wing,
  I 've a notion, backed by mem'ry,
    That it's love that makes the spring.

  I have heard a robin singing
    When the boughs were brown and bare,
  And the chilling hand of winter
  Scattered jewels through the air.
  And in spite of dates and seasons,
    It was always spring, I know,
  When I loved Lucy Landman
    In the days of long ago.

  Ah, my little Lucy Landman,
    I remember you as well
  As if 't were only yesterday
    I strove your thoughts to tell,--
  When I tilted back your bonnet,
    Looked into your eyes so true,
  Just to see if you were loving
    Me as I was loving you.

  Ah, my little Lucy Landman
    It is true it was denied
  You should see a fuller summer
    And an autumn by my side.
  But the glance of love's sweet sunlight
    Which your eyes that morning gave
  Has kept spring within my bosom,
    Though you lie within the grave.


THE GOURD

  In the heavy earth the miner
    Toiled and laboured day by day,
  Wrenching from the miser mountain
    Brilliant treasure where it lay.
  And the artist worn and weary
    Wrought with labour manifold
  That the king might drink his nectar
    From a goblet made of gold.

  On the prince's groaning table
    Mid the silver gleaming bright
  Mirroring the happy faces
    Giving back the flaming light,
  Shine the cups of priceless crystal
    Chased with many a lovely line,
  Glowing now with warmer colour,
    Crimsoned by the ruby wine.

  In a valley sweet with sunlight,
    Fertile with the dew and rain,
  Without miner's daily labour,
    Without artist's nightly pain,
  There there grows the cup I drink from,
    Summer's sweetness in it stored,
  And my lips pronounce a blessing
    As they touch an old brown gourd.

  Why, the miracle at Cana
    In the land of Galilee,
  Tho' it puzzles all the scholars,
    Is no longer strange to me.
  For the poorest and the humblest
    Could a priceless wine afford,
  If they 'd only dip up water
    With a sunlight-seasoned gourd.

  So a health to my old comrade,
    And a song of praise to sing
  When he rests inviting kisses
    In his place beside the spring.
  Give the king his golden goblets,
    Give the prince his crystal hoard;
  But for me the sparkling water
    From a brown and brimming gourd!


THE KNIGHT

  Our good knight, Ted, girds his broadsword on
    (And he wields it well, I ween);
  He 's on his steed, and away has gone
    To the fight for king and queen.
  What tho' no edge the broadsword hath?
  What tho' the blade be made of lath?
    'T is a valiant hand
    That wields the brand,
  So, foeman, clear the path!

  He prances off at a goodly pace;
    'T is a noble steed he rides,
  That bears as well in the speedy race
    As he bears in battle-tides.
  What tho' 't is but a rocking-chair
  That prances with this stately air?
    'T is a warrior bold
    The reins doth hold,
  Who bids all foes beware!


THOU ART MY LUTE

  Thou art my lute, by thee I sing,--
    My being is attuned to thee.
  Thou settest all my words a-wing,
    And meltest me to melody.

  Thou art my life, by thee I live,
    From thee proceed the joys I know;
  Sweetheart, thy hand has power to give
    The meed of love--the cup of woe.

  Thou art my love, by thee I lead
    My soul the paths of light along,
  From vale to vale, from mead to mead,
    And home it in the hills of song.

  My song, my soul, my life, my all,
    Why need I pray or make my plea,
  Since my petition cannot fall;
    For I 'm already one with thee!


THE PHANTOM KISS

  One night in my room, still and beamless,
    With will and with thought in eclipse,
  I rested in sleep that was dreamless;
    When softly there fell on my lips

  A touch, as of lips that were pressing
    Mine own with the message of bliss--
  A sudden, soft, fleeting caressing,
    A breath like a maiden's first kiss.

  I woke-and the scoffer may doubt me--
    I peered in surprise through the gloom;
  But nothing and none were about me,
    And I was alone in my room.

  Perhaps 't was the wind that caressed me
    And touched me with dew-laden breath;
  Or, maybe, close-sweeping, there passed me
    The low-winging Angel of Death.

  Some sceptic may choose to disdain it,
    Or one feign to read it aright;
  Or wisdom may seek to explain it--
    This mystical kiss in the night.

  But rather let fancy thus clear it:
    That, thinking of me here alone,
  The miles were made naught, and, in spirit,
    Thy lips, love, were laid on mine own.


COMMUNION

  In the silence of my heart,
    I will spend an hour with thee,
  When my love shall rend apart
    All the veil of mystery:

  All that dim and misty veil
    That shut in between our souls
  When Death cried, "Ho, maiden, hail!"
    And your barque sped on the shoals.

  On the shoals? Nay, wrongly said.
    On the breeze of Death that sweeps
  Far from life, thy soul has sped
    Out into unsounded deeps.

  I shall take an hour and come
    Sailing, darling, to thy side.
  Wind nor sea may keep me from
    Soft communings with my bride.

  I shall rest my head on thee
    As I did long days of yore,
  When a calm, untroubled sea
    Rocked thy vessel at the shore.

  I shall take thy hand in mine,
    And live o'er the olden days
  When thy smile to me was wine,--
    Golden wine thy word of praise,

  For the carols I had wrought
    In my soul's simplicity;
  For the petty beads of thought
    Which thine eyes alone could see.

  Ah, those eyes, love-blind, but keen
    For my welfare and my weal!
  Tho' the grave-door shut between,
    Still their love-lights o'er me steal.

  I can see thee thro' my tears,
    As thro' rain we see the sun.
  What tho' cold and cooling years
    Shall their bitter courses run,--

  I shall see thee still and be
    Thy true lover evermore,
  And thy face shall be to me
    Dear and helpful as before.

  Death may vaunt and Death may boast,
    But we laugh his pow'r to scorn;
  He is but a slave at most,--
    Night that heralds coming morn.

  I shall spend an hour with thee
    Day by day, my little bride.
  True love laughs at mystery,
    Crying, "Doors of Death, fly wide."


MARE RUBRUM

  In Life's Red Sea with faith I plant my feet,
    And wait the sound of that sustaining word
      Which long ago the men of Israel heard,
  When Pharaoh's host behind them, fierce and fleet,
  Raged on, consuming with revengeful heat.
      Why are the barrier waters still unstirred?--
      That struggling faith may die of hope deferred?
  Is God not sitting in His ancient seat?

  The billows swirl above my trembling limbs,
    And almost chill my anxious heart to doubt
      And disbelief, long conquered and defied.
  But tho' the music of my hopeful hymns
    Is drowned by curses of the raging rout,
      No voice yet bids th' opposing waves divide!


IN AN ENGLISH GARDEN

  In this old garden, fair, I walk to-day
    Heart-charmed with all the beauty of the scene:
    The rich, luxuriant grasses' cooling green,
  The wall's environ, ivy-decked and gray,
  The waving branches with the wind at play,
    The slight and tremulous blooms that show between,
    Sweet all: and yet my yearning heart doth lean
  Toward Love's Egyptian fleshpots far away.

  Beside the wall, the slim Laburnum grows
    And flings its golden flow'rs to every breeze.
    But e'en among such soothing sights as these,
  I pant and nurse my soul-devouring woes.
  Of all the longings that our hearts wot of,
  There is no hunger like the want of love!


THE CRISIS

  A man of low degree was sore oppressed,
    Fate held him under iron-handed sway,
  And ever, those who saw him thus distressed
    Would bid him bend his stubborn will and pray.
  But he, strong in himself and obdurate,
  Waged, prayerless, on his losing fight with Fate.

  Friends gave his proffered hand their coldest clasp,
    Or took it not at all; and Poverty,
  That bruised his body with relentless grasp,
    Grinned, taunting, when he struggled to be free.
  But though with helpless hands he beat the air,
  His need extreme yet found no voice in prayer.

  Then he prevailed; and forthwith snobbish Fate,
    Like some whipped cur, came fawning at his feet;
  Those who had scorned forgave and called him great--
    His friends found out that friendship still was sweet.
  But he, once obdurate, now bowed his head
  In prayer, and trembling with its import, said:

  "Mere human strength may stand ill-fortune's frown;
    So I prevailed, for human strength was mine;
  But from the killing pow'r of great renown,
    Naught may protect me save a strength divine.
  Help me, O Lord, in this my trembling cause;
  I scorn men's curses, but I dread applause!"


THE CONQUERORS

THE BLACK TROOPS IN CUBA

  Round the wide earth, from the red field your valour has won,
  Blown with the breath of the far-speaking gun,
          Goes the word.
  Bravely you spoke through the battle cloud heavy and dun.
  Tossed though the speech toward the mist-hidden sun,
          The world heard.

  Hell would have shrunk from you seeking it fresh from the fray,
  Grim with the dust of the battle, and gray
          From the fight.
  Heaven would have crowned you, with crowns not of gold but of bay,
  Owning you fit for the light of her day,
          Men of night.

  Far through the cycle of years and of lives that shall come,
  There shall speak voices long muffled and dumb,
          Out of fear.
  And through the noises of trade and the turbulent hum,
  Truth shall rise over the militant drum,
          Loud and clear.

  Then on the cheek of the honester nation that grows,
  All for their love of you, not for your woes,
          There shall lie
  Tears that shall be to your souls as the dew to the rose;
  Afterward thanks, that the present yet knows
          Not to ply!


ALEXANDER CRUMMELL--DEAD

  Back to the breast of thy mother,
  Child of the earth!
  E'en her caress can not smother
  What thou hast done.
  Follow the trail of the westering sun
  Over the earth.
  Thy light and his were as one--
  Sun, in thy worth.
  Unto a nation whose sky was as night,
  Camest thou, holily, bearing thy light:
  And the dawn came,
  In it thy fame
  Flashed up in a flame.

  Back to the breast of thy mother--
  To rest.
  Long hast thou striven;
  Dared where the hills by the lightning of heaven were riven;
  Go now, pure shriven.
  Who shall come after thee, out of the clay--
  Learned one and leader to show us the way?
  Who shall rise up when the world gives the test?
  Think thou no more of this--
  Rest!


WHEN ALL IS DONE

  When all is done, and my last word is said,
  And ye who loved me murmur, "He is dead,"
  Let no one weep, for fear that I should know,
  And sorrow too that ye should sorrow so.

  When all is done and in the oozing clay,
  Ye lay this cast-off hull of mine away,
  Pray not for me, for, after long despair,
  The quiet of the grave will be a prayer.

  For I have suffered loss and grievous pain,
  The hurts of hatred and the world's disdain,
  And wounds so deep that love, well-tried and pure,
  Had not the pow'r to ease them or to cure.

  When all is done, say not my day is o'er,
  And that thro' night I seek a dimmer shore:
  Say rather that my morn has just begun,--
  I greet the dawn and not a setting sun,
          When all is done.


THE POET AND THE BABY

  How's a man to write a sonnet, can you tell,--
  How's he going to weave the dim, poetic spell,--
    When a-toddling on the floor
    Is the muse he must adore,
  And this muse he loves, not wisely, but too well?

  Now, to write a sonnet, every one allows,
  One must always be as quiet as a mouse;
    But to write one seems to me
    Quite superfluous to be,
  When you 've got a little sonnet in the house.

  Just a dainty little poem, true and fine,
  That is full of love and life in every line,
    Earnest, delicate, and sweet,
    Altogether so complete
  That I wonder what's the use of writing mine.


DISTINCTION

  "I am but clay," the sinner plead,
    Who fed each vain desire.
  "Not only clay," another said,
    "But worse, for thou art mire."


THE SUM

  A little dreaming by the way,
  A little toiling day by day;
  A little pain, a little strife,
  A little joy,--and that is life.

  A little short-lived summer's morn,
  When joy seems all so newly born,
  When one day's sky is blue above,
  And one bird sings,--and that is love.

  A little sickening of the years,
  The tribute of a few hot tears
  Two folded hands, the failing breath,
  And peace at last,--and that is death.

  Just dreaming, loving, dying so,
  The actors in the drama go--
  A flitting picture on a wall,
  Love, Death, the themes; but is that all?


SONNET

ON AN OLD BOOK WITH UNCUT LEAVES

  Emblem of blasted hope and lost desire,
    No finger ever traced thy yellow page
    Save Time's. Thou hast not wrought to noble rage
  The hearts thou wouldst have stirred. Not any fire
  Save sad flames set to light a funeral pyre
    Dost thou suggest. Nay,--impotent in age,
    Unsought, thou holdst a corner of the stage
  And ceasest even dumbly to aspire.

  How different was the thought of him that writ.
    What promised he to love of ease and wealth,
  When men should read and kindle at his wit.
    But here decay eats up the book by stealth,
  While it, like some old maiden, solemnly,
  Hugs its incongruous virginity!


ON THE SEA WALL

  I sit upon the old sea wall,
    And watch the shimmering sea,
  Where soft and white the moonbeams fall,
    Till, in a fantasy,
  Some pure white maiden's funeral pall
    The strange light seems to me.

  The waters break upon the shore
    And shiver at my feet,
  While I dream old dreams o'er and o'er,
    And dim old scenes repeat;
  Tho' all have dreamed the same before,
    They still seem new and sweet.

  The waves still sing the same old song
    That knew an elder time;
  The breakers' beat is not more strong,
    Their music more sublime;
  And poets thro' the ages long
    Have set these notes to rhyme.

  But this shall not deter my lyre,
    Nor check my simple strain;
  If I have not the old-time fire,
    I know the ancient pain:
  The hurt of unfulfilled desire,--
    The ember quenched by rain.

  I know the softly shining sea
    That rolls this gentle swell
  Has snarled and licked its tongues at me
    And bared its fangs as well;
  That 'neath its smile so heavenly,
    There lurks the scowl of hell!

  But what of that? I strike my string
    (For songs in youth are sweet);
  I 'll wait and hear the waters bring
    Their loud resounding beat;
  Then, in her own bold numbers sing
    The Ocean's dear deceit!


TO A LADY PLAYING THE HARP

  Thy tones are silver melted into sound,
    And as I dream
  I see no walls around,
    But seem to hear
    A gondolier
  Sing sweetly down some slow Venetian stream.

  Italian skies--that I have never seen--
    I see above.
  (Ah, play again, my queen;
    Thy fingers white
    Fly swift and light
  And weave for me the golden mesh of love.)

  Oh, thou dusk sorceress of the dusky eyes
    And soft dark hair,
  'T is thou that mak'st my skies
    So swift to change
    To far and strange:
  But far and strange, thou still dost make them fair.

  Now thou dost sing, and I am lost in thee
    As one who drowns
  In floods of melody.
    Still in thy art
    Give me this part,
  Till perfect love, the love of loving crowns.


CONFESSIONAL

  Search thou my heart;
    If there be guile,
  It shall depart
    Before thy smile.

  Search thou my soul;
    Be there deceit,
  'T will vanish whole
    Before thee, sweet.

  Upon my mind
    Turn thy pure lens;
  Naught shalt thou find
    Thou canst not cleanse.

  If I should pray,
    I scarcely know
  In just what way
    My prayers would go.

  So strong in me
    I feel love's leaven,
  I 'd bow to thee
    As soon as Heaven!


MISAPPREHENSION

  Out of my heart, one day, I wrote a song,
    With my heart's blood imbued,
  Instinct with passion, tremulously strong,
    With grief subdued;
    Breathing a fortitude
      Pain-bought.
  And one who claimed much love for what I wrought,
    Read and considered it,
      And spoke:
  "Ay, brother,--'t is well writ,
      But where's the joke?"


PROMETHEUS

  Prometheus stole from Heaven the sacred fire
    And swept to earth with it o'er land and sea.
    He lit the vestal flames of poesy,
  Content, for this, to brave celestial ire.

  Wroth were the gods, and with eternal hate
    Pursued the fearless one who ravished Heaven
    That earth might hold in fee the perfect leaven
  To lift men's souls above their low estate.

  But judge you now, when poets wield the pen,
    Think you not well the wrong has been repaired?
    'Twas all in vain that ill Prometheus fared:
  The fire has been returned to Heaven again!

  We have no singers like the ones whose note
    Gave challenge to the noblest warbler's song.
    We have no voice so mellow, sweet, and strong
  As that which broke from Shelley's golden throat.

  The measure of our songs is our desires:
    We tinkle where old poets used to storm.
    We lack their substance tho' we keep their form:
  We strum our banjo-strings and call them lyres.


LOVE'S PHASES

  Love hath the wings of the butterfly,
    Oh, clasp him but gently,
  Pausing and dipping and fluttering by
    Inconsequently.
  Stir not his poise with the breath of a sigh;
  Love hath the wings of the butterfly.

  Love hath the wings of the eagle bold,
    Cling to him strongly--
  What if the look of the world be cold,
    And life go wrongly?
  Rest on his pinions, for broad is their fold;
  Love hath the wings of the eagle bold.

  Love hath the voice of the nightingale,
    Hearken his trilling--
  List to his song when the moonlight is pale,--
    Passionate, thrilling.
  Cherish the lay, ere the lilt of it fail;
  Love hath the voice of the nightingale.

  Love hath the voice of the storm at night,
    Wildly defiant.
  Hear him and yield up your soul to his might,
    Tenderly pliant.
  None shall regret him who heed him aright;
  Love hath the voice of the storm at night.


FOR THE MAN WHO FAILS

  The world is a snob, and the man who wins
    Is the chap for its money's worth:
  And the lust for success causes half of the sins
    That are cursing this brave old earth.
  For it 's fine to go up, and the world's applause
    Is sweet to the mortal ear;
  But the man who fails in a noble cause
    Is a hero that 's no less dear.

  'T is true enough that the laurel crown
    Twines but for the victor's brow;
  For many a hero has lain him down
    With naught but the cypress bough.
  There are gallant men in the losing fight,
    And as gallant deeds are done
  As ever graced the captured height
    Or the battle grandly won.

  We sit at life's board with our nerves highstrung,
    And we play for the stake of Fame,
  And our odes are sung and our banners hung
    For the man who wins the game.
  But I have a song of another kind
    Than breathes in these fame-wrought gales,--
  An ode to the noble heart and mind
    Of the gallant man who fails!

  The man who is strong to fight his fight,
    And whose will no front can daunt,
  If the truth be truth and the right be right,
    Is the man that the ages want.
  Tho' he fail and die in grim defeat,
    Yet he has not fled the strife,
  And the house of Earth will seem more sweet
    For the perfume of his life.


HARRIET BEECHER STOWE

  She told the story, and the whole world wept
    At wrongs and cruelties it had not known
    But for this fearless woman's voice alone.
    She spoke to consciences that long had slept:
  Her message, Freedom's clear reveille, swept
    From heedless hovel to complacent throne.
    Command and prophecy were in the tone
    And from its sheath the sword of justice leapt.
  Around two peoples swelled a fiery wave,
    But both came forth transfigured from the flame.
  Blest be the hand that dared be strong to save,
    And blest be she who in our weakness came--
    Prophet and priestess! At one stroke she gave
    A race to freedom and herself to fame.


VAGRANTS

  Long time ago, we two set out,
    My soul and I.
    I know not why,
  For all our way was dim with doubt.
    I know not where
    We two may fare:
  Though still with every changing weather,
  We wander, groping on together.

  We do not love, we are not friends,
    My soul and I.
    He lives a lie;
  Untruth lines every way he wends.
    A scoffer he
    Who jeers at me:
  And so, my comrade and my brother,
  We wander on and hate each other.

  Ay, there be taverns and to spare,
    Beside the road;
    But some strange goad
  Lets me not stop to taste their fare.
    Knew I the goal
    Toward which my soul
  And I made way, hope made life fragrant:
  But no. We wander, aimless, vagrant!


A WINTER'S DAY

  Across the hills and down the narrow ways,
    And up the valley where the free winds sweep,
    The earth is folded in an ermined sleep
  That mocks the melting mirth of myriad Mays.
  Departed her disheartening duns and grays,
    And all her crusty black is covered deep.
    Dark streams are locked in Winter's donjon-keep,
  And made to shine with keen, unwonted rays.
  O icy mantle, and deceitful snow!
    What world-old liars in your hearts ye are!
    Are there not still the darkened seam and scar
  Beneath the brightness that you fain would show?
  Come from the cover with thy blot and blur,
  O reeking Earth, thou whited sepulchre!


MY LITTLE MARCH GIRL

  Come to the pane, draw the curtain apart,
  There she is passing, the girl of my heart;
  See where she walks like a queen in the street,
  Weather-defying, calm, placid and sweet.
  Tripping along with impetuous grace,
  Joy of her life beaming out of her face,
  Tresses all truant-like, curl upon curl,
  Wind-blown and rosy, my little March girl.

  Hint of the violet's delicate bloom,
  Hint of the rose's pervading perfume!
  How can the wind help from kissing her face,--
  Wrapping her round in his stormy embrace?
  But still serenely she laughs at his rout,
  She is the victor who wins in the bout.
  So may life's passions about her soul swirl,
  Leaving it placid,--my little March girl.

  What self-possession looks out of her eyes!
  What are the wild winds, and what are the skies,
  Frowning and glooming when, brimming with life,
  Cometh the little maid ripe for the strife?
  Ah! Wind, and bah! Wind, what might have you now?
  What can you do with that innocent brow?
  Blow, Wind, and grow, Wind, and eddy and swirl,
  But bring her to me, Wind,--my little March girl.


REMEMBERED

  She sang, and I listened the whole song thro'.
    (It was sweet, so sweet, the singing.)
  The stars were out and the moon it grew
  From a wee soft glimmer way out in the blue
    To a bird thro' the heavens winging.

  She sang, and the song trembled down to my breast,--
    (It was sweet, so sweet the singing.)
  As a dove just out of its fledgling nest,
  And, putting its wings to the first sweet test,
    Flutters homeward so wearily winging.

  She sang and I said to my heart "That song,
    That was sweet, so sweet i' the singing,
  Shall live with us and inspire us long,
  And thou, my heart, shalt be brave and strong
    For the sake of those words a-winging."

  The woman died and the song was still.
    (It was sweet, so sweet, the singing.)
  But ever I hear the same low trill,
  Of the song that shakes my heart with a thrill,
    And goes forever winging.


LOVE DESPOILED

  As lone I sat one summer's day,
    With mien dejected, Love came by;
  His face distraught, his locks astray,
    So slow his gait, so sad his eye,
    I hailed him with a pitying cry:

  "Pray, Love, what has disturbed thee so?"
    Said I, amazed. "Thou seem'st bereft;
  And see thy quiver hanging low,--
    What, not a single arrow left?
    Pray, who is guilty of this theft?"

  Poor Love looked in my face and cried:
    "No thief were ever yet so bold
  To rob my quiver at my side.
    But Time, who rules, gave ear to Gold,
    And all my goodly shafts are sold."


THE LAPSE

  This poem must be done to-day;
    Then, I 'll e'en to it.
  I must not dream my time away,--
    I 'm sure to rue it.
  The day is rather bright, I know
    The Muse will pardon
  My half-defection, if I go
    Into the garden.
  It must be better working there,--
    I 'm sure it's sweeter:
  And something in the balmy air
    May clear my metre.

    [_In the Garden._]

  Ah this is noble, what a sky!
    What breezes blowing!
  The very clouds, I know not why,
    Call one to rowing.
  The stream will be a paradise
    To-day, I 'll warrant.
  I know the tide that's on the rise
    Will seem a torrent;
  I know just how the leafy boughs
    Are all a-quiver;
  I know how many skiffs and scows
    Are on the river.
  I think I 'll just go out awhile
    Before I write it;
  When Nature shows us such a smile,
    We should n't slight it.
  For Nature always makes desire
    By giving pleasure;
  And so 't will help me put more fire
    Into my measure.

    [_On the River._]

  The river's fine, I 'm glad I came,
    That poem 's teasing;
  But health is better far than fame,
    Though cheques are pleasing.
  I don't know what I did it for,--
    This air 's a poppy.
  I 'm sorry for my editor,--
    He 'll get no copy!


THE WARRIOR'S PRAYER

  Long since, in sore distress, I heard one pray,
    "Lord, who prevailest with resistless might,
  Ever from war and strife keep me away,
      My battles fight!"

  I know not if I play the Pharisee,
    And if my brother after all be right;
  But mine shall be the warrior's plea to thee--
      Strength for the fight.

  I do not ask that thou shalt front the fray,
    And drive the warring foeman from my sight;
  I only ask, O Lord, by night, by day,
      Strength for the fight!

  When foes upon me press, let me not quail
    Nor think to turn me into coward flight.
  I only ask, to make mine arms prevail,
      Strength for the fight!

  Still let mine eyes look ever on the foe,
    Still let mine armor case me strong and bright;
  And grant me, as I deal each righteous blow,
      Strength for the fight!

  And when, at eventide, the fray is done,
    My soul to Death's bedchamber do thou light,
  And give me, be the field or lost or won,
      Rest from the fight!


FAREWELL TO ARCADY

  With sombre mien, the Evening gray
  Comes nagging at the heels of Day,
  And driven faster and still faster
  Before the dusky-mantled Master,
  The light fades from her fearful eyes,
  She hastens, stumbles, falls, and dies.

  Beside me Amaryllis weeps;
  The swelling tears obscure the deeps
  Of her dark eyes, as, mistily,
  The rushing rain conceals the sea.
  Here, lay my tuneless reed away,--
  I have no heart to tempt a lay.

  I scent the perfume of the rose
  Which by my crystal fountain grows.
  In this sad time, are roses blowing?
  And thou, my fountain, art thou flowing,

  While I who watched thy waters spring
  Am all too sad to smile or sing?
  Nay, give me back my pipe again,
  It yet shall breathe this single strain:
        Farewell to Arcady!


THE VOICE OF THE BANJO

  In a small and lonely cabin out of noisy traffic's way,
  Sat an old man, bent and feeble, dusk of face, and hair of gray,
  And beside him on the table, battered, old, and worn as he,
  Lay a banjo, droning forth this reminiscent melody:

  "Night is closing in upon us, friend of mine, but don't be sad;
  Let us think of all the pleasures and the joys that we have had.
  Let us keep a merry visage, and be happy till the last,
  Let the future still be sweetened with the honey of the past.

  "For I speak to you of summer nights upon the yellow sand,
  When the Southern moon was sailing high and silvering all the land;
  And if love tales were not sacred, there's a tale that I could tell
  Of your many nightly wanderings with a dusk and lovely belle.

  "And I speak to you of care-free songs when labour's hour was o'er,
  And a woman waiting for your step outside the cabin door,
  And of something roly-poly that you took upon your lap,
  While you listened for the stumbling, hesitating words, 'Pap, pap.'

  "I could tell you of a 'possum hunt across the wooded grounds,
  I could call to mind the sweetness of the baying of the hounds,
  You could lift me up and smelling of the timber that 's in me,
  Build again a whole green forest with the mem'ry of a tree.

  "So the future cannot hurt us while we keep the past in mind,
  What care I for trembling fingers,--what care you that you are blind?
  Time may leave us poor and stranded, circumstance may make us bend;
  But they 'll only find us mellower, won't they, comrade?--in the end."


THE STIRRUP CUP

  Come, drink a stirrup cup with me,
    Before we close our rouse.
  You 're all aglow with wine, I know:
    The master of the house,
    Unmindful of our revelry,
    Has drowned the carking devil care,
      And slumbers in his chair.

  Come, drink a cup before we start;
    We 've far to ride to-night.
  And Death may take the race we make,
    And check our gallant flight:
    But even he must play his part,
    And tho' the look he wears be grim,
    We 'll drink a toast to him!

  For Death,--a swift old chap is he,
    And swift the steed He rides.
  He needs no chart o'er main or mart,
    For no direction bides.
    So, come, a final, cup with me,
    And let the soldiers' chorus swell,--
    To hell with care, to hell!


A CHOICE

  They please me not--these solemn songs
  That hint of sermons covered up.
  'Tis true the world should heed its wrongs,
    But in a poem let me sup,
  Not simples brewed to cure or ease
  Humanity's confessed disease,
  But the spirit-wine of a singing line,
    Or a dew-drop in a honey cup!




HUMOUR AND DIALECT


THEN AND NOW

THEN

  He loved her, and through many years,
  Had paid his fair devoted court,
  Until she wearied, and with sneers
  Turned all his ardent love to sport.

  That night within his chamber lone,
  He long sat writing by his bed
  A note in which his heart made moan
  For love; the morning found him dead.

NOW

  Like him, a man of later day
  Was jilted by the maid he sought,
  And from her presence turned away,
  Consumed by burning, bitter thought.

  He sought his room to write--a curse
  Like him before and die, I ween.
  Ah no, he put his woes in verse,
  And sold them to a magazine.


AT CHESHIRE CHEESE

  When first of wise old Johnson taught,
  My youthful mind its homage brought,
  And made the pond'rous crusty sage
  The object of a noble rage.

  Nor did I think (How dense we are!)
  That any day, however far,
  Would find me holding, unrepelled,
  The place that Doctor Johnson held!

  But change has come and time has moved,
  And now, applauded, unreproved,
  I hold, with pardonable pride,
  The place that Johnson occupied.

  Conceit! Presumption! What is this?
  You surely read my words amiss;
  Like Johnson I,--a man of mind!
  How could you ever be so blind?

  No. At the ancient "Cheshire Cheese,"
  Blown hither by some vagrant breeze,
  To dignify my shallow wit,
  In Doctor Johnson's seat I sit!


MY CORN-COB PIPE

  Men may sing of their Havanas, elevating to the stars
  The real or fancied virtues of their foreign-made cigars;
  But I worship Nicotina at a different sort of shrine,
  And she sits enthroned in glory in this corn-cob pipe of mine.

  It 's as fragrant as the meadows when the clover is in bloom;
  It 's as dainty as the essence of the daintiest perfume;
  It 's as sweet as are the orchards when the fruit is hanging ripe,
  With the sun's warm kiss upon them--is this corn-cob pipe.

  Thro' the smoke about it clinging, I delight its form to trace,
  Like an oriental beauty with a veil upon her face;
  And my room is dim with vapour as a church when censers sway,
  As I clasp it to my bosom--in a figurative way.

  It consoles me in misfortune and it cheers me in distress,
  And it proves a warm partaker of my pleasures in success;
  So I hail it as a symbol, friendship's true and worthy type,
  And I press my lips devoutly to my corn-cob pipe.


IN AUGUST

  When August days are hot an' dry,
  When burning copper is the sky,
  I 'd rather fish than feast or fly
  In airy realms serene and high.

  I 'd take a suit not made for looks,
  Some easily digested books,
  Some flies, some lines, some bait, some hooks,
  Then would I seek the bays and brooks.

  I would eschew mine every task,
  In Nature's smiles my soul should bask,
  And I methinks no more could ask,
  Except--perhaps--one little flask.

  In case of accident, you know,
  Or should the wind come on to blow,
  Or I be chilled or capsized, so,
  A flask would be the only go.

  Then could I spend a happy time,--
  A bit of sport, a bit of rhyme
  (A bit of lemon, or of lime,
  To make my bottle's contents prime).

  When August days are hot an' dry,
  I won't sit by an' sigh or die,
  I 'll get my bottle (on the sly)
  And go ahead, and fish, and lie!


THE DISTURBER

  Oh, what shall I do? I am wholly upset;
  I am sure I 'll be jailed for a lunatic yet.
  I 'll be out of a job--it's the thing to expect
  When I 'm letting my duty go by with neglect.
  You may judge the extent and degree of my plight
  When I 'm thinking all day and a-dreaming all night,
  And a-trying my hand at a rhyme on the sly,
  All on account of a sparkling eye.

  There are those who say men should be strong, well-a-day!
  But what constitutes strength in a man? Who shall say?
  I am strong as the most when it comes to the arm.
  I have aye held my own on the playground or farm.
  And when I 've been tempted, I haven't been weak;
  But now--why, I tremble to hear a maid speak.
  I used to be bold, but now I 've grown shy,
  And all on account of a sparkling eye.

  There once was a time when my heart was devout,
  But now my religion is open to doubt.
  When parson is earnestly preaching of grace,
  My fancy is busy with drawing a face,
  Thro' the back of a bonnet most piously plain;
  'I draw it, redraw it, and draw it again.'
  While the songs and the sermon unheeded go by,--
  All on account of a sparkling eye.

  Oh, dear little conjurer, give o'er your wiles,
  It is easy for you, you're all blushes and smiles:
  But, love of my heart, I am sorely perplexed;
  I am smiling one minute and sighing the next;
  And if it goes on, I 'll drop hackle and flail,
  And go to the parson and tell him my tale.
  I warrant he 'll find me a cure for the sigh
  That you 're aye bringing forth with the glance of your eye.


EXPECTATION

  You 'll be wonderin' whut 's de reason
    I 's a grinnin' all de time,
  An' I guess you t'ink my sperits
    Mus' be feelin' mighty prime.
  Well, I 'fess up, I is tickled
    As a puppy at his paws.
  But you need n't think I's crazy,
    I ain' laffin' 'dout a cause.

  You's a wonderin' too, I reckon,
    Why I does n't seem to eat,
  An' I notice you a lookin'
    Lak you felt completely beat
  When I 'fuse to tek de bacon,
    An' don' settle on de ham.
  Don' you feel no feah erbout me,
    Jes' keep eatin', an' be ca'm.

  Fu' I's waitin' an' I's watchin'
    'Bout a little t'ing I see--
  D' othah night I's out a walkin'
    An' I passed a 'simmon tree.
  Now I's whettin' up my hongry,
    An' I's laffin' fit to kill,
  Fu' de fros' done turned de 'simmons,
    An' de possum 's eat his fill.

  He done go'ged hisse'f owdacious,
    An' he stayin' by de tree!
  Don' you know, ol' Mistah Possum
    Dat you gittin' fat fu' me?
  'T ain't no use to try to 'spute it,
    'Case I knows you's gittin' sweet
  Wif dat 'simmon flavoh thoo you,
    So I's waitin' fu' yo' meat.

  An' some ebenin' me an Towsah
    Gwine to come an' mek a call,
  We jes' drap in onexpected
    Fu' to shek yo' han', dat's all.
  Oh, I knows dat you 'll be tickled,
    Seems lak I kin see you smile,
  So pu'haps I mought pu'suade you
    Fu' to visit us a while.


LOVER'S LANE

  Summah night an' sighin' breeze,
    'Long de lovah's lane;
  Frien'ly, shadder-mekin' trees,
    'Long de lovah's lane.
  White folks' wo'k all done up gran'--
  Me an' 'Mandy han'-in-han'
  Struttin' lak we owned de lan',
    'Long de lovah's lane.

  Owl a-settin' 'side de road,
    'Long de lovah's lane,
  Lookin' at us lak he knowed
    Dis uz lovah's lane.
  Go on, hoot yo' mou'nful tune,
  You ain' nevah loved in June,
  An' come hidin' f'om de moon
    Down in lovah's lane.

  Bush it ben' an' nod an' sway,
    Down in lovah's lane,
  Try'n' to hyeah me whut I say
    'Long de lovah's lane.
  But I whispahs low lak dis,
  An' my 'Mandy smile huh bliss--
  Mistah Bush he shek his fis',
   Down in lovah's lane.

  Whut I keer ef day is long,
    Down in lovah's lane.
  I kin allus sing a song
    'Long de lovah's lane.
  An' de wo'ds I hyeah an' say
  Meks up fu' de weary day
  Wen I's strollin' by de way,
    Down in lovah's lane.

  An' dis t'ought will allus rise
    Down in lovah's lane;
  Wondah whethah in de skies
    Dey 's a lovah's lane.
  Ef dey ain't, I tell you true,
  'Ligion do look mighty blue,
  'Cause I do' know whut I 'd do
    'Dout a lovah's lane.


PROTEST

  Who say my hea't ain't true to you?
    Dey bettah heish dey mouf.
  I knows I loves you thoo an' thoo
    In watah time er drouf.
  I wush dese people 'd stop dey talkin',
  Don't mean no mo' dan chicken's squawkin':
  I guess I knows which way I's walkin',
    I knows de norf f'om souf.

  I does not love Elizy Brown,
    I guess I knows my min'.
  You allus try to tek me down
    Wid evaht'ing you fin'.
  Ef dese hyeah folks will keep on fillin'
  Yo' haid wid nonsense, an' you's willin'
  I bet some day dey 'll be a killin'
    Somewhaih along de line.

  O' cose I buys de gal ice-cream,
    Whut else I gwine to do?
  I knows jes' how de t'ing 'u'd seem
    Ef I 'd be sho't wid you.
  On Sunday, you's at chu'ch a-shoutin',
  Den all de week you go 'roun' poutin'--
  I's mighty tiahed o' all dis doubtin',
    I tell you cause I's true.


HYMN

  O li'l' lamb out in de col',
  De Mastah call you to de fol',
          O li'l' lamb!
  He hyeah you bleatin' on de hill;
  Come hyeah an' keep yo' mou'nin' still,
          O li'l' lamb!

  De Mastah sen' de Shepud fo'f;
  He wandah souf, he wandah no'f,
          O li'l' lamb!
  He wandah eas', he wandah wes';
  De win' a-wrenchin' at his breas',
          O li'l' lamb!

  Oh, tell de Shepud whaih you hide;
  He want you walkin' by his side,
          O li'l' lamb!
  He know you weak, he know you so';
  But come, don' stay away no mo',
          O li'l' lamb!

  An' af'ah while de lamb he hyeah
  De Shepud's voice a-callin' cleah--
          Sweet li'l' lamb!
  He answah f'om de brambles thick,
  "O Shepud, I's a-comin' quick"--
          O li'l' lamb!


LITTLE BROWN BABY

  Little brown baby wif spa'klin' eyes,
    Come to yo' pappy an' set on his knee.
  What you been doin', suh--makin' san' pies?
    Look at dat bib--you's ez du'ty ez me.
  Look at dat mouf--dat's merlasses, I bet;
    Come hyeah, Maria, an' wipe off his han's.
  Bees gwine to ketch you an' eat you up yit,
    Bein' so sticky an sweet--goodness lan's!

  Little brown baby wif spa'klin' eyes,
    Who's pappy's darlin' an' who 's pappy's chile?
  Who is it all de day nevah once tries
    Fu' to be cross, er once loses dat smile?
  Whah did you git dem teef? My, you 's a scamp!
    Whah did dat dimple come f'om in yo' chin?
  Pappy do' know you--I b'lieves you 's a tramp;
    Mammy, dis hyeah's some ol' straggler got in!

  Let's th'ow him outen de do' in de san',
    We do' want stragglers a-layin' 'roun' hyeah;
  Let's gin him 'way to de big buggah-man;
    I know he's hidin' erroun' hyeah right neah.
  Buggah-man, buggah-man, come in de do',
    Hyeah 's a bad boy you kin have fu' to eat.
  Mammy an' pappy do' want him no mo',
    Swaller him down f'om his haid to his feet!

  Dah, now, I t'ought dat you 'd hug me up close.
    Go back, ol' buggah, you sha'n't have dis boy.
  He ain't no tramp, ner no straggler, of co'se;
    He's pappy's pa'dner an' play-mate an' joy.
  Come to you' pallet now--go to yo' res;
    Wisht you could allus know ease an' cleah skies;
  Wisht you could stay jes' a chile on my breas'--
    Little brown baby wif spa'klin' eyes!


TIME TO TINKER 'ROUN'!

  Summah 's nice, wif sun a-shinin',
    Spring is good wif greens and grass,
  An' dey 's some t'ings nice 'bout wintah,
    Dough hit brings de freezin' blas;
  But de time dat is de fines',
    Whethah fiel's is green er brown,
  Is w'en de rain 's a-po'in'
    An' dey 's time to tinker 'roun.

  Den you men's de mule's ol' ha'ness,
    An' you men's de broken chair.
  Hummin' all de time you 's wo'kin'
    Some ol' common kind o' air.
  Evah now an' then you looks out,
    Tryin' mighty ha'd to frown,
  But you cain't, you 's glad hit 's rainin',
    An' dey 's time to tinker 'roun'.

  Oh, you 'ten's lak you so anxious
    Evah time it so't o' stops.
  W'en hit goes on, den you reckon
    Dat de wet 'll he'p de crops.
  But hit ain't de crops you 's aftah;
    You knows w'en de rain comes down
  Dat's hit's too wet out fu' wo'kin',
    An' dey 's time to tinker roun'.

  Oh, dey 's fun inside de co'n-crib.
    An' dey 's laffin' at de ba'n;
  An' dey 's allus some one jokin',
    Er some one to tell a ya'n.
  Dah 's a quiet in yo' cabin,
    Only fu' de rain's sof soun';
  So you 's mighty blessed happy
    W'en dey 's time to tinker 'roun'!


THE REAL QUESTION

  Folks is talkin' 'bout de money, 'bout de silvah an' de gold;
  All de time de season 's changin' an' de days is gittin' cold.
  An' dey 's wond'rin' 'bout de metals, whethah we'll have one er two.
  While de price o' coal is risin' an' dey 's two months' rent dat 's due.

  Some folks says dat gold 's de only money dat is wuff de name,
  Den de othahs rise an' tell 'em dat dey ought to be ashame,
  An' dat silvah is de only thing to save us f'om de powah
  Of de gold-bug ragin' 'roun' an' seekin' who he may devowah.

  Well, you folks kin keep on shoutin' wif yo' gold er silvah cry,
  But I tell you people hams is sceerce an' fowls is roostin' high.
  An' hit ain't de so't o' money dat is pesterin' my min',
  But de question I want answehed 's how to get at any kin'!


JILTED

  Lucy done gone back on me,
    Dat's de way wif life.
  Evaht'ing was movin' free,
    T'ought I had my wife.
  Den some dahky comes along,
  Sings my gal a little song,
  Since den, evaht'ing's gone wrong,
    Evah day dey 's strife.

  Did n't answeh me to-day,
    Wen I called huh name,
  Would you t'ink she 'd ac' dat way
    Wen I ain't to blame?
  Dat 's de way dese women do,
  Wen dey fin's a fellow true,
  Den dey 'buse him thoo an' thoo;
    Well, hit 's all de same.

  Somep'n's wrong erbout my lung,
    An' I 's glad hit 's so.
  Doctah says 'at I 'll die young,
    Well, I wants to go!
  Whut 's de use o' livin' hyeah,
  Wen de gal you loves so deah,
  Goes back on you clean an' cleah--
    I sh'd like to know?


THE NEWS

  Whut dat you whisperin' keepin' f'om me?
  Don't shut me out 'cause I 's ol' an' can't see.
  Somep'n's gone wrong dat 's a-causin' you dread,--
  Don't be afeared to tell--Whut! mastah dead?

  Somebody brung de news early to-day,--
  One of de sojers he led, do you say?
  Did n't he foller whah ol' mastah lead?
  How kin he live w'en his leadah is dead?

  Let me lay down awhile, dah by his bed;
  I wants to t'ink,--hit ain't cleah in my head:--
  Killed while a-leadin' his men into fight,--
  Dat 's whut you said, ain't it, did I hyeah right?

  Mastah, my mastah, dead dah in de fiel'?
  Lif me up some,--dah, jes' so I kin kneel.
  I was too weak to go wid him, dey said,
  Well, now I 'll--fin' him--so--mastah is dead.

  Yes, suh, I 's comin' ez fas' ez I kin,--
  Twas kin' o' da'k, but hit 's lightah agin:
  P'omised yo' pappy I 'd allus tek keer
  Of you,--yes, mastah,--I 's follerin',--hyeah!


CHRISMUS ON THE PLANTATION

  It was Chrismus Eve, I mind hit fu' a mighty gloomy day--
  Bofe de weathah an' de people--not a one of us was gay;
  Cose you 'll t'ink dat 's mighty funny 'twell I try to mek hit cleah,
  Fu' a da'ky 's allus happy when de holidays is neah.

  But we wasn't, fu' dat mo'nin' Mastah 'd tol' us we mus' go,
  He 'd been payin' us sence freedom, but he couldn't pay no mo';'
  He wa'n't nevah used to plannin' 'fo' he got so po' an' ol',
  So he gwine to give up tryin', an' de homestead mus' be sol'.

  I kin see him stan'in' now erpon de step ez cleah ez day,
  Wid de win' a-kind o' fondlin' thoo his haih all thin an' gray;
  An' I 'membah how he trimbled when he said, "It's ha 'd fu' me,
  Not to mek yo' Chrismus brightah, but I 'low it wa'n't to be."

  All de women was a-cryin', an' de men, too, on de sly,
  An' I noticed somep'n shinin' even in ol' Mastah's eye.
  But we all stood still to listen ez ol' Ben come f'om de crowd
  An' spoke up, a-try'n' to steady down his voice and mek it loud:--

  "Look hyeah, Mastah, I 's been servin' you' fu' lo! dese many yeahs,
  An' now, sence we 's got freedom an' you 's kind o' po', hit 'pears
  Dat you want us all to leave you 'cause you don't t'ink you can pay.
  Ef my membry has n't fooled me, seem dat whut I hyead you say.

  "Er in othah wo'ds, you wants us to fu'git dat you 's been kin',
  An' ez soon ez you is he'pless, we 's to leave you hyeah behin'.
  Well, ef dat 's de way dis freedom ac's on people, white er black,
  You kin jes' tell Mistah Lincum fu' to tek his freedom back.

  "We gwine wo'k dis ol' plantation fu' whatevah we kin git,
  Fu' I know hit did suppo't us, an' de place kin do it yit.
  Now de land is yo's, de hands is ouahs, an' I reckon we 'll be brave,
  An' we 'll bah ez much ez you do w'en we has to scrape an' save."

  Ol' Mastah stood dah trimblin', but a-smilin' thoo his teahs,
  An' den hit seemed jes' nachul-like, de place fah rung wid cheahs,
  An' soon ez dey was quiet, some one sta'ted sof an' low:
  "Praise God," an' den we all jined in, "from whom all blessin's flow!"

  Well, dey was n't no use tryin', ouah min's was sot to stay,
  An' po' ol' Mastah could n't plead ner baig, ner drive us 'way,
  An' all at once, hit seemed to us, de day was bright agin,
  So evahone was gay dat night, an' watched de Chrismus in.


ANGELINA

  When de fiddle gits to singin' out a ol' Vahginny reel,
  An' you 'mence to feel a ticklin' in yo' toe an' in yo' heel;
  Ef you t'ink you got 'uligion an' you wants to keep it, too,
  You jes' bettah tek a hint an' git yo'self clean out o' view.
  Case de time is mighty temptin' when de chune is in de swing,
  Fu' a darky, saint or sinner man, to cut de pigeon-wing.
  An' you could n't he'p f'om dancin' ef yo' feet was boun' wif twine,
  When Angelina Johnson comes a-swingin' down de line.

  Don't you know Miss Angelina? She 's de da'lin' of de place.
  W'y, dey ain't no high-toned lady wif sich mannahs an' sich grace.
  She kin move across de cabin, wif its planks all rough an' wo';
  Jes' de same 's ef she was dancin' on ol' mistus' ball-room flo'.
  Fact is, you do' see no cabin--evaht'ing you see look grand,
  An' dat one ol' squeaky fiddle soun' to you jes' lak a ban';
  Cotton britches look lak broadclof an' a linsey dress look fine,
  When Angelina Johnson comes a-swingin' down de line.

  Some folks say dat dancin 's sinful, an' de blessed Lawd, dey say,
  Gwine to punish us fu' steppin' w'en we hyeah de music play.
  But I tell you I don' b'lieve it, fu' de Lawd is wise and good,
  An' he made de banjo's metal an' he made de fiddle's wood,
  An' he made de music in dem, so I don' quite t'ink he 'll keer
  Ef our feet keeps time a little to de melodies we hyeah.
  W'y, dey's somep'n' downright holy in de way our faces shine,
  When Angelina Johnson comes a-swingin' down de line.

  Angelina steps so gentle, Angelina bows so low,
  An' she lif huh sku't so dainty dat huh shoetop skacely show:
  An' dem teef o' huh'n a-shinin', ez she tek you by de han'--
  Go 'way, people, d' ain't anothah sich a lady in de lan'!
  When she 's movin' thoo de figgers er a-dancin' by huhse'f,
  Folks jes' stan' stock-still a-sta'in', an' dey mos' nigh hol's dey bref;
  An' de young mens, dey 's a-sayin', "I 's gwine mek dat damsel mine,"
  When Angelina Johnson comes a-swingin' down de line.


FOOLIN' WID DE SEASONS

  Seems lak folks is mighty curus
    In de way dey t'inks an' ac's.
  Dey jes' spen's dey days a-mixin'
    Up de t'ings in almanacs.
  Now, I min' my nex' do' neighbour,--
    He's a mighty likely man,
  But he nevah t'inks o' nuffin
    'Ceptin' jes' to plot an' plan.

  All de wintah he was plannin'
    How he 'd gethah sassafras
  Jes' ez soon ez evah Springtime
    Put some greenness in de grass.
  An' he 'lowed a little soonah
    He could stan' a coolah breeze
  So 's to mek a little money
    F'om de sugah-watah trees.

  In de summah, he 'd be waihin'
    Out de linin' of his soul,
  Try 'n' ca'ci'late an' fashion
    How he 'd git his wintah coal;
  An' I b'lieve he got his jedgement
    Jes' so tuckahed out an' thinned
  Dat he t'ought a robin's whistle
    Was de whistle of de wind.

  Why won't folks gin up dey plannin',
    An' jes' be content to know
  Dat dey 's gittin' all dat's fu' dem
    In de days dat come an' go?
  Why won't folks quit movin' forrard?
    Ain't hit bettah jes' to stan'
  An' be satisfied wid livin'
   In de season dat 's at han'?

  Hit 's enough fu' me to listen
    W'en de birds is singin' 'roun',
  'Dout a-guessin' whut 'll happen
    W'en de snow is on de groun'.
  In de Springtime an' de summah,
    I lays sorrer on de she'f;
  An' I knows ol' Mistah Wintah
    Gwine to hustle fu' hisse'f.

  We been put hyeah fu' a pu'pose,
    But de questun dat has riz
  An' made lots o' people diffah
    Is jes' whut dat pu'pose is.
  Now, accordin' to my reas'nin',
    Hyeah's de p'int whaih I 's arriv,
  Sence de Lawd put life into us,
    We was put hyeah fu' to live!


MY SORT O' MAN

  I don't believe in 'ristercrats
      An' never did, you see;
  The plain ol' homelike sorter folks
      Is good enough fur me.
  O' course, I don't desire a man
      To be too tarnal rough,
  But then, I think all folks should know
      When they air nice enough.

  Now there is folks in this here world,
      From peasant up to king,
  Who want to be so awful nice
      They overdo the thing.
  That's jest the thing that makes me sick,
      An' quicker 'n a wink
  I set it down that them same folks
      Ain't half so good 's you think.

  I like to see a man dress nice,
      In clothes becomin' too;
  I like to see a woman fix
      As women orter to do;
  An' boys an' gals I like to see
      Look fresh an' young an' spry.--
  We all must have our vanity
      An' pride before we die.

  But I jedge no man by his clothes,--
      Nor gentleman nor tramp;
  The man that wears the finest suit
      May be the biggest scamp,
  An' he whose limbs air clad in rags
      That make a mournful sight,
  In life's great battle may have proved
      A hero in the fight.

  I don't believe in 'ristercrats;
      I like the honest tan
  That lies upon the healthful cheek
      An' speaks the honest man;
  I like to grasp the brawny hand
      That labor's lips have kissed,
  For he who has not labored here
      Life's greatest pride has missed:

  The pride to feel that yore own strength
      Has cleaved fur you the way
  To heights to which you were not born,
      But struggled day by day.
  What though the thousands sneer an' scoff,
      An' scorn yore humble birth?
  Kings are but puppets; you are king
      By right o' royal worth.

  The man who simply sits an' waits
      Fur good to come along,
  Ain't worth the breath that one would take
      To tell him he is wrong.
  Fur good ain't flowin' round this world
      Fur every fool to sup;
  You 've got to put yore see-ers on,
      An' go an' hunt it up.

  Good goes with honesty, I say,
      To honour an' to bless;
  To rich an' poor alike it brings
      A wealth o' happiness.
  The 'ristercrats ain't got it all,
      Fur much to their su'prise,
  That's one of earth's most blessed things
      They can't monopolize.


POSSUM

  Ef dey 's anyt'ing dat riles me
    An' jes' gits me out o' hitch,
  Twell I want to tek my coat off,
    So 's to r'ar an' t'ar an' pitch,
  Hit's to see some ign'ant white man
    'Mittin' dat owdacious sin--
  Wen he want to cook a possum
    Tekin' off de possum's skin.

  W'y dey ain't no use in talkin',
    Hit jes' hu'ts me to de hea't
  Fu' to see dem foolish people
    Th'owin' 'way de fines' pa't.
  W'y, dat skin is jes' ez tendah
    An' ez juicy ez kin be;
  I knows all erbout de critter--
    Hide an' haih--don't talk to me!

  Possum skin is jes lak shoat skin;
    Jes' you swinge an' scrope it down,
  Tek a good sha'p knife an' sco' it,
    Den you bake it good an' brown.
  Huh-uh! honey, you 's so happy
    Dat yo' thoughts is 'mos' a sin
  When you 's settin' dah a-chawin'
    On dat possum's cracklin' skin.

  White folks t'ink dey know 'bout eatin',
    An' I reckon dat dey do
  Sometimes git a little idee
    Of a middlin' dish er two;
  But dey ain't a t'ing dey knows of
    Dat I reckon cain't be beat
  Wen we set down at de table
    To a unskun possum's meat!


ON THE ROAD

  I 's boun' to see my gal to-night--
    Oh, lone de way, my dearie!
  De moon ain't out, de stars ain't bright--
    Oh, lone de way, my dearie!
  Dis hoss o' mine is pow'ful slow,
  But when I does git to yo' do'
  Yo' kiss 'll pay me back, an' mo',
    Dough lone de way, my dearie.

  De night is skeery-lak an' still--
    Oh, lone de way, my dearie!
  'Cept fu' dat mou'nful whippo'will--
    Oh, lone de way, my dearie!
  De way so long wif dis slow pace,
  'T 'u'd seem to me lak savin' grace
  Ef you was on a nearer place,
    Fu' lone de way, my dearie.

  I hyeah de hootin' of de owl--
    Oh, lone de way, my dearie!
  I wish dat watch-dog would n't howl:--
    Oh, lone de way, my dearie!
  An' evaht'ing, bofe right an' lef',
  Seem p'int'ly lak hit put itse'f
  In shape to skeer me half to def--
    Oh, lone de way, my dearie!

  I whistles so's I won't be feared--
    Oh lone de way, my dearie!
  But anyhow I's kin' o' skeered,
    Fu' lone de way, my dearie.
  De sky been lookin' mighty glum,
  But you kin mek hit lighten some,
  Ef you 'll jes' say you's glad I come,
    Dough lone de way, my dearie.


A DEATH SONG

  Lay me down beneaf de willers in de grass,
  Whah de branch 'll go a-singin' as it pass.
    An' w'en I 's a-layin' low,
    I kin hyeah it as it go
  Singin', "Sleep, my honey, tek yo' res' at las'."

  Lay me nigh to whah hit meks a little pool,
  An' de watah stan's so quiet lak an' cool,
    Whah de little birds in spring,
    Ust to come an' drink an' sing,
  An' de chillen waded on dey way to school.

  Let me settle w'en my shouldahs draps dey load
  Nigh enough to hyeah de noises in de road;
    Fu' I t'ink de las' long res'
    Gwine to soothe my sperrit bes'
  Ef I's layin' 'mong de t'ings I's allus knowed.


A BACK-LOG SONG

  De axes has been ringin' in de woods de blessid day,
    An' de chips has been a-fallin' fa' an' thick;
  Dey has cut de bigges' hick'ry dat de mules kin tote away,
    An' dey's laid hit down and soaked it in de crik.
  Den dey tuk hit to de big house an' dey piled de wood erroun'
    In de fiah-place f'om ash-flo' to de flue,
  While ol' Ezry sta'ts de hymn dat evah yeah has got to soun'
    When de back-log fus' commence a-bu'nin' thoo.

  Ol' Mastah is a-smilin' on de da'kies f'om de hall,
  Ol' Mistus is a-stannin' in de do',
  An' de young folks, males an' misses, is a-tryin', one an' all,
    Fu' to mek us feel hit 's Chrismus time fu' sho'.
  An' ouah hea'ts are full of pleasure, fu' we know de time is ouahs
    Fu' to dance er do jes' whut we wants to do.
  An' dey ain't no ovahseer an' no othah kind o' powahs
    Dat kin stop us while dat log is bu'nin thoo.

  Dey 's a-wokin' in de qua'tahs a-preparin' fu' de feas',
    So de little pigs is feelin' kind o' shy.
  De chickens ain't so trus'ful ez dey was, to say de leas',
    An' de wise ol' hens is roostin' mighty high.
  You could n't git a gobblah fu' to look you in de face--
    I ain't sayin' whut de tu'ky 'spects is true;
  But hit's mighty dange'ous trav'lin' fu' de critters on de place
  F'om de time dat log commence a bu'nin' thoo.

  Some one's tunin' up his fiddle dah, I hyeah a banjo's ring,
    An', bless me, dat's de tootin' of a ho'n!
  Now dey 'll evah one be runnin' dat has got a foot to fling,
    An' dey 'll dance an' frolic on f'om now 'twell mo'n.
  Plunk de banjo, scrap de fiddle, blow dat ho'n yo' level bes',
    Keep yo' min' erpon de chune an' step it true.
  Oh, dey ain't no time fu' stoppin' an' dey ain't no time fu' res',
    Fu' hit 's Chrismus an' de back-log 's bu'nin' thoo!


LULLABY

  Bedtime 's come fu' little boys.
        Po' little lamb.
  Too tiahed out to make a noise,
        Po' little lamb.
  You gwine t' have to-morrer sho'?
  Yes, you tole me dat befo',
  Don't you fool me, chile, no mo',
        Po' little lamb.

  You been bad de livelong day,
        Po' little lamb.
  Th'owin' stones an' runnin' 'way,
        Po' little lamb.
  My, but you 's a-runnin' wil',
  Look jes' lak some po' folks chile;
  Mam' gwine whup you atter while,
        Po' little lamb.

  Come hyeah! you mos' tiahed to def,
        Po' little lamb.
  Played yo'se'f clean out o' bref,
        Po' little lamb.
  See dem han's now--sich a sight!
  Would you evah b'lieve dey's white?
  Stan' still twell I wash 'em right,
        Po' little lamb.

  Jes' cain't hol' yo' haid up straight,
        Po' little lamb.
  Had n't oughter played so late,
        Po' little lamb.
  Mammy do' know whut she 'd do,
  Ef de chillun's all lak you;
    You 's a caution now fu' true,
        Po' little lamb.

  Lay yo' haid down in my lap,
        Po' little lamb.
  Y' ought to have a right good slap,
        Po' little lamb.
  You been runnin' roun' a heap.
  Shet dem eyes an' don't you peep,
  Dah now, dah now, go to sleep,
        Po' little lamb.


THE PHOTOGRAPH

  See dis pictyah in my han'?
    Dat's my gal;
  Ain't she purty? goodness lan'!
    Huh name Sal.
  Dat's de very way she be--
  Kin' o' tickles me to see
  Huh a-smilin' back at me.

  She sont me dis photygraph
    Jes' las' week;
  An' aldough hit made me laugh--
    My black cheek
  Felt somethin' a-runnin' queer;
  Bless yo' soul, it was a tear
  Jes' f'om wishin' she was here.

  Often when I 's all alone
    Layin' here,
  I git t'inkin' 'bout my own
    Sallie dear;
  How she say dat I 's huh beau,
  An' hit tickles me to know
  Dat de gal do love me so.

  Some bright day I 's goin' back,
    Fo' de la!
  An' ez sho' 's my face is black,
    Ax huh pa
  Fu' de blessed little miss
  Who 's a-smilin' out o dis
  Pictyah, lak she wan'ed a kiss!


JEALOUS

  Hyeah come Cæsar Higgins,
  Don't he think he 's fine?
  Look at dem new riggin's
  Ain't he tryin' to shine?
  Got a standin' collar
  An' a stove-pipe hat,
  I 'll jes' bet a dollar
  Some one gin him dat.

  Don't one o' you mention,
  Nothin' 'bout his cloes,
  Don't pay no attention,
  Er let on you knows
  Dat he 's got 'em on him,
  Why, 't 'll mek him sick,
  Jes go on an' sco'n him,
  My, ain't dis a trick!

  Look hyeah, whut 's he doin'
  Lookin' t' othah way?
  Dat ere move 's a new one,
  Some one call him, "Say!"
  Can't you see no pusson--
  Puttin' on you' airs,
  Sakes alive, you 's wuss'n
  Dese hyeah millionaires.

  Need n't git so flighty,
  Case you got dat suit.
  Dem cloes ain't so mighty,--
  Second hand to boot,
  I 's a-tryin' to spite you!
  Full of jealousy!
  Look hyeah, man, I 'll fight you,
  Don't you fool wid me!


PARTED

  De breeze is blowin' 'cross de bay.
      My lady, my lady;
  De ship hit teks me far away,
      My lady, my lady;
  Ole Mas' done sol' me down de stream;
  Dey tell me 't ain't so bad 's hit seem,
      My lady, my lady.

  O' co'se I knows dat you 'll be true,
      My lady, my lady;
  But den I do' know whut to do,
      My lady, my lady;
  I knowed some day we 'd have to pa't,
  But den hit put' nigh breaks my hea't,
      My lady, my lady.

  De day is long, de night is black,
      My lady, my lady;
  I know you 'll wait twell I come back,
      My lady, my lady;
  I 'll stan' de ship, I 'll stan' de chain,
  But I 'll come back, my darlin' Jane,
      My lady, my lady.

  Jes' wait, jes' b'lieve in whut I say,
      My lady, my lady;
  D' ain't nothin' dat kin keep me 'way,
      My lady, my lady;
  A man 's a man, an' love is love;
  God knows ouah hea'ts, my little dove;
  He 'll he'p us f'om his th'one above,
      My lady, my lady.


TEMPTATION

  I done got 'uligion, honey, an' I 's happy ez a king;
  Evahthing I see erbout me 's jes' lak sunshine in de spring;
  An' it seems lak I do' want to do anothah blessid thing
  But jes' run an' tell de neighbours, an' to shout an' pray an' sing.

  I done shuk my fis' at Satan, an' I 's gin de worl' my back;
  I do' want no hendrin' causes now a-both'rin' in my track;
  Fu' I 's on my way to glory, an' I feels too sho' to miss.
  Wy, dey ain't no use in sinnin' when 'uligion 's sweet ez dis.

  Talk erbout a man backslidin' w'en he 's on de gospel way;
  No, suh, I done beat de debbil, an' Temptation 's los' de day.
  Gwine to keep my eyes right straight up, gwine to shet my eahs, an' see
  Whut ole projick Mistah Satan 's gwine to try to wuk on me.

  Listen, whut dat soun' I hyeah dah? 'tain't no one commence to sing;
  It 's a fiddle; git erway dah! don' you hyeah dat blessid thing?
  W'y, dat's sweet ez drippin' honey, 'cause, you knows, I draws de bow,
  An' when music's sho' 'nough music, I 's de one dat's sho' to know.

  W'y, I 's done de double shuffle, twell a body could n't res',
  Jes' a-hyeahin' Sam de fiddlah play dat chune his level bes';
  I could cut a mighty caper, I could gin a mighty fling
  Jes' right now, I 's mo' dan suttain I could cut de pigeon wing.

  Look hyeah, whut 's dis I 's been sayin'? whut on urf 's tuk holt o' me?
  Dat ole music come nigh runnin' my 'uligion up a tree!
  Cleah out wif dat dah ole fiddle, don' you try dat trick agin;
  Did n't think I could be tempted, but you lak to made me sin!


POSSUM TROT

  I 've journeyed 'roun' consid'able, a-seein' men an' things,
  An' I 've learned a little of the sense that meetin' people brings;
  But in spite of all my travelling an' of all I think I know,
  I 've got one notion in my head, that I can't git to go;
  An' it is that the folks I meet in any other spot
  Ain't half so good as them I knowed back home in Possum Trot.

  I know you 've never heerd the name, it ain't a famous place,
  An' I reckon ef you 'd search the map you could n't find a trace
  Of any sich locality as this I 've named to you;
  But never mind, I know the place, an' I love it dearly too.
  It don't make no pretensions to bein' great or fine,
  The circuses don't come that way, they ain't no railroad line.
  It ain't no great big city, where the schemers plan an' plot,
  But jest a little settlement, this place called Possum Trot.

  But don't you think the folks that lived in that outlandish place
  Were ignorant of all the things that go for sense or grace.
  Why, there was Hannah Dyer, you may search this teemin' earth
  An' never find a sweeter girl, er one o' greater worth;
  An' Uncle Abner Williams, a-leanin' on his staff,
  It seems like I kin hear him talk, an' hear his hearty laugh.
  His heart was big an' cheery as a sunny acre lot,
  Why, that's the kind o' folks we had down there at Possum Trot.

  Good times? Well, now, to suit my taste,--an' I 'm some hard to suit,--
  There ain't been no sich pleasure sence, an' won't be none to boot,
  With huskin' bees in Harvest time, an' dances later on,
  An' singin' school, an taffy pulls, an' fun from night till dawn.
  Revivals come in winter time, baptizin's in the spring,
  You 'd ought to seen those people shout, an' heerd 'em pray an' sing;
  You 'd ought to 've heard ole Parson Brown a-throwin' gospel shot
  Among the saints an' sinners in the days of Possum Trot.

  We live up in the city now, my wife was bound to come;
  I hear aroun' me day by day the endless stir an' hum.
  I reckon that it done me good, an' yet it done me harm,
  That oil was found so plentiful down there on my ole farm.
  We 've got a new-styled preacher, our church is new-styled too,
  An' I 've come down from what I knowed to rent a cushioned pew.
  But often when I 'm settin' there, it's foolish, like as not,
  To think of them ol' benches in the church at Possum Trot.

  I know that I 'm ungrateful, an' sich thoughts must be a sin,
  But I find myself a wishin' that the times was back agin.
  With the huskin's an' the frolics, an' the joys' I used to know,
  When I lived at the settlement, a dozen years ago.
  I don't feel this way often, I 'm scarcely ever glum,
  For life has taught me how to take her chances as they come.
  But now an' then my mind goes back to that ol' buryin' plot,
  That holds the dust of some I loved, down there at Possum Trot.


DELY

  Jes' lak toddy wahms you thoo'
    Sets yo' haid a reelin',
  Meks you ovah good and new,
    Dat 's de way I 's feelin'.
  Seems to me hit 's summah time,
    Dough hit 's wintah reely,
  I 's a feelin' jes' dat prime--
    An' huh name is Dely.

  Dis hyeah love 's a cu'rus thing,
    Changes 'roun' de season,
  Meks you sad or meks you sing,
    'Dout no urfly reason.
  Sometimes I go mopin' 'roun',
    Den agin I 's leapin';
  Sperits allus up an' down
    Even when I 's sleepin'.

  Fu' de dreams comes to me den,
    An' dey keeps me pitchin',
  Lak de apple dumplin's w'en
    Bilin' in de kitchen.
  Some one sot to do me hahm,
    Tryin' to ovahcome me,
  Ketchin' Dely by de ahm
    So 's to tek huh f'om me.

  Mon, you bettah b'lieve I fights
    (Dough hit's on'y seemin');
  I's a hittin' fu' my rights
    Even w'en I 's dreamin'.
  But I 'd let you have 'em all,
    Give 'em to you freely,
  Good an' bad ones, great an' small,
    So 's you leave me Dely.

  Dely got dem meltin' eyes,
    Big an' black an' tendah.
  Dely jes' a lady-size,
    Delikit an' slendah.
  Dely brown ez brown kin be
    An' huh haih is curly;
  Oh, she look so sweet to me,--
    Bless de precious girlie!

  Dely brown ez brown kin be,
    She ain' no mullatter;
  She pure cullud,--don' you see
    Dat 's jes' whut 's de mattah?
  Dat 's de why I love huh so,
    D' ain't no mix about huh,
  Soon 's you see huh face you know
    D' ain't no chanst to doubt huh.

  Folks dey go to chu'ch an' pray
    So 's to git a blessin'.
  Oomph, dey bettah come my way,
    Dey could lu'n a lesson.
  Sabbaf day I don' go fu',
    Jes' to see my pigeon;
  I jes' sets an' looks at huh,
    Dat's enuff 'uligion.


BREAKING THE CHARM

  Caught Susanner whistlin'; well,
  It's most nigh too good to tell.
  'Twould 'a' b'en too good to see
  Ef it had n't b'en fur me,
  Comin' up so soft an' sly
  That she didn' hear me nigh.
  I was pokin' 'round that day,
  An' ez I come down the way,
  First her whistle strikes my ears,--
  Then her gingham dress appears;
  So with soft step up I slips.
  Oh, them dewy, rosy lips!
  Ripe ez cherries, red an' round,
  Puckered up to make the sound.
  She was lookin' in the spring,
  Whistlin' to beat anything,--
  "Kitty Dale" er "In the Sweet."
  I was jest so mortal beat
  That I can't quite ricoleck
  What the toon was, but I 'speck
  'T was some hymn er other, fur
  Hymny things is jest like her.
  Well she went on fur awhile
  With her face all in a smile,
  An' I never moved, but stood
  Stiller 'n a piece o' wood--
  Would n't wink ner would n't stir,
  But a-gazin' right at her,
  Tell she turns an' sees me--my!
  Thought at first she 'd try to fly.
  But she blushed an' stood her ground.
  Then, a-slyly lookin' round,
  She says: "Did you hear me, Ben?"
  "Whistlin' woman, crowin' hen,"
  Says I, lookin' awful stern.
  Then the red commenced to burn
  In them cheeks o' hern. Why, la!
  Reddest red you ever saw--
  Pineys wa'n't a circumstance.
  You 'd 'a' noticed in a glance
  She was pow'rful shamed an' skeart;
  But she looked so sweet an' peart,
  That a idee struck my head;
  So I up an' slowly said:
  "Woman whistlin' brings shore harm,
  Jest one thing 'll break the charm."
  "And what's that?" "Oh, my!" says I,
  "I don't like to tell you." "Why?"
  Says Susanner. "Well, you see
  It would kinder fall on me."
  Course I knowed that she 'd insist,--
  So I says: "You must be kissed
  By the man that heard you whistle;
  Everybody says that this 'll
  Break the charm and set you free
  From the threat'nin' penalty."
  She was blushin' fit to kill,
  But she answered, kinder still:
  "I don't want to have no harm,
  Please come, Ben, an' break the charm."
  Did I break that charm?--oh, well,
  There's some things I must n't tell.
  I remember, afterwhile,
  Her a-sayin' with a smile:
  "Oh, you quit,--you sassy dunce,
  You jest caught me whistlin' _once_."
  Ev'ry sence that when I hear
  Some one whistlin' kinder clear,
  I most break my neck to see
  Ef it 's Susy; but, dear me,
  I jest find I 've b'en to chase
  Some blamed boy about the place.
  Dad 's b'en noticin' my way,
  An' last night I heerd him say:
  "We must send fur Dr. Glenn,
  Mother; somethin 's wrong with Ben!"


HUNTING SONG

    Tek a cool night, good an' cleah,
      Skiff o' snow upon de groun';
    Jes' 'bout fall-time o' de yeah
      W'en de leaves is dry an brown;
    Tek a dog an' tek a axe,
      Tek a lantu'n in yo' han',
    Step light whah de switches cracks,
      Fu' dey 's huntin' in de lan'.
  Down thoo de valleys an' ovah de hills,
    Into de woods whah de 'simmon-tree grows,
  Wakin' an' skeerin' de po' whippo'wills,
    Huntin' fu' coon an' fu' 'possum we goes.

    Blow dat ho'n dah loud an' strong,
      Call de dogs an' da'kies neah;
    Mek its music cleah an' long,
      So de folks at home kin hyeah.
    Blow it twell de hills an' trees
      Sen's de echoes tumblin' back;
    Blow it twell de back'ard breeze
      Tells de folks we 's on de track.
  Coons is a-ramblin' an' 'possums is out;
    Look at dat dog; you could set on his tail!
  Watch him now--steady,--min'--what you 's about,
    Bless me, dat animal's got on de trail!

    Listen to him ba'kin now!
      Dat means bus'ness, sho 's you bo'n;
    Ef he's struck de scent I 'low
      Dat ere 'possum's sholy gone.
    Knowed dat dog fu' fo'teen yeahs,
      An' I nevah seed him fail
    Wen he sot dem flappin' eahs
      An' went off upon a trail.
  Run, Mistah 'Possum, an' run, Mistah Coon,
    No place is safe fu' yo' ramblin' to-night;
  Mas' gin' de lantu'n an' God gin de moon,
    An' a long hunt gins a good appetite.

    Look hyeah, folks, you hyeah dat change?
      Dat ba'k is sha'per dan de res'.
    Dat ere soun' ain't nothin' strange,--
      Dat dog's talked his level bes'.
    Somep'n' 's treed, I know de soun'.
      Dah now,--wha 'd I tell you? see!
    Dat ere dog done run him down;
      Come hyeah, he'p cut down dis tree.
  Ah, Mistah 'Possum, we got you at las'--
    Need n't play daid, laying dah on de groun';
  Fros' an' de 'simmons has made you grow fas',--
    Won't he be fine when he's roasted up brown!


A LETTER

  Dear Miss Lucy: I been t'inkin' dat I 'd write you long fo' dis,
  But dis writin' 's mighty tejous, an' you know jes' how it is.
  But I 's got a little lesure, so I teks my pen in han'
  Fu' to let you know my feelin's since I retched dis furrin' lan'.
  I 's right well, I 's glad to tell you (dough dis climate ain't to blame),
  An' I hopes w'en dese lines reach you, dat dey 'll fin' yo' se'f de same.
  Cose I 'se feelin kin' o' homesick--dat 's ez nachul ez kin be,
  Wen a feller 's mo'n th'ee thousand miles across dat awful sea.
  (Don't you let nobidy fool you 'bout de ocean bein' gran';
  If you want to see de billers, you jes' view dem f'om de lan'.)
  'Bout de people? We been t'inkin' dat all white folks was alak;
  But dese Englishmen is diffunt, an' dey 's curus fu' a fac'.
  Fust, dey's heavier an' redder in dey make-up an' dey looks,
  An' dey don't put salt nor pepper in a blessed t'ing dey cooks!
  Wen dey gin you good ol' tu'nips, ca'ots, pa'snips, beets, an' sich,
  Ef dey ain't some one to tell you, you cain't 'stinguish which is which.
  Wen I t'ought I 's eatin' chicken--you may b'lieve dis hyeah 's a lie--
  But de waiter beat me down dat I was eatin' rabbit pie.
  An' dey 'd t'ink dat you was crazy--jes' a reg'lar ravin' loon,
  Ef you 'd speak erbout a 'possum or a piece o' good ol' coon.
  O, hit's mighty nice, dis trav'lin', an' I 's kin' o' glad I come.
  But, I reckon, now I 's willin' fu' to tek my way back home.
  I done see de Crystal Palace, an' I 's hyeahd dey string-band play,
  But I has n't seen no banjos layin' nowhahs roun' dis way.
  Jes' gin ol' Jim Bowles a banjo, an' he 'd not go very fu',
  'Fo' he 'd outplayed all dese fiddlers, wif dey flourish and dey stir.
  Evahbiddy dat I 's met wif has been monst'ous kin an' good;
  But I t'ink I 'd lak it better to be down in Jones's wood,
  Where we ust to have sich frolics, Lucy, you an' me an' Nelse,
  Dough my appetite 'ud call me, ef dey was n't nuffin else.
  I 'd jes' lak to have some sweet-pertaters roasted in de skin;
  I 's a-longin' fu' my chittlin's an' my mustard greens ergin;
  I 's a-wishin' fu' some buttermilk, an' co'n braid, good an' brown,
  An' a drap o' good ol' bourbon fu' to wash my feelin's down!
  An' I 's comin' back to see you jes' as ehly as I kin,
  So you better not go spa'kin' wif dat wuffless scoun'el Quin!
  Well, I reckon, I mus' close now; write ez soon's dis reaches you;
  Gi' my love to Sister Mandy an' to Uncle Isham, too.
  Tell de folks I sen' 'em howdy; gin a kiss to pap an' mam;
  Closin' I is, deah Miss Lucy, Still Yo' Own True-Lovin' Sam.

  P. S. Ef you cain't mek out dis letter, lay it by erpon de she'f,
       An' when I git home, I 'll read it, darlin', to you my own se'f.


CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN'

  Bones a-gittin' achy,
  Back a-feelin' col',
  Han's a-growin' shaky,
  Jes' lak I was ol'.
  Fros' erpon de meddah
  Lookin' mighty white;
  Snowdraps lak a feddah
  Slippin' down at night.
  Jes' keep t'ings a-hummin'
  Spite o' fros' an' showahs,
  Chrismus is a-comin'
  An' all de week is ouahs.

  Little mas' a-axin',
  "Who is Santy Claus?"
  Meks it kin' o' taxin'
  Not to brek de laws.
  Chillun 's pow'ful tryin'
  To a pusson's grace
  Wen dey go a pryin'
  Right on th'oo you' face
  Down ermong yo' feelin's;
  Jes' 'pears lak dat you
  Got to change you' dealin's
  So 's to tell 'em true.

  An' my pickaninny--
  Dreamin' in his sleep!
  Come hyeah, Mammy Jinny,
  Come an' tek a peep.
  Ol Mas' Bob an' Missis
  In dey house up daih
  Got no chile lak dis is,
  D' ain't none anywhaih.
  Sleep, my little lammy,
  Sleep, you little limb,
  He do' know whut mammy
  Done saved up fu' him.

  Dey 'll be banjo pickin',
  Dancin' all night thoo.
  Dey 'll be lots o' chicken,
  Plenty tukky, too.
  Drams to wet yo' whistles
  So 's to drive out chills.
  Whut I keer fu' drizzles
  Fallin' on de hills?
  Jes' keep t'ings a-hummin'
  Spite o' col' an' showahs,
  Chrismus day 's a-comin',
  An' all de week is ouahs.


A CABIN TALE

THE YOUNG MASTER ASKS FOR A STORY

  Whut you say, dah? huh, uh! chile,
  You 's enough to dribe me wile.
  Want a sto'y; jes' hyeah dat!
  Whah' 'll I git a sto'y at?
  Di'n' I tell you th'ee las' night?
  Go 'way, honey, you ain't right.
  I got somep'n' else to do,
  'Cides jes' tellin' tales to you.
  Tell you jes' one? Lem me see
  Whut dat one's a-gwine to be.
  When you 's ole, yo membry fails;
  Seems lak I do' know no tales.
  Well, set down dah in dat cheer,
  Keep still ef you wants to hyeah.
  Tek dat chin up off yo' han's,
  Set up nice now. Goodness lan's!
  Hol' yo'se'f up lak yo' pa.
  Bet nobidy evah saw
  Him scrunched down lak you was den--
  High-tone boys meks high-tone men.

  Once dey was a ole black bah,
  Used to live 'roun' hyeah some whah
  In a cave. He was so big
  He could ca'y off a pig
  Lak you picks a chicken up,
  Er yo' leetles' bit o' pup.
  An' he had two gread big eyes,
  Jes' erbout a saucer's size.
  Why, dey looked lak balls o' fiah
  Jumpin' 'roun' erpon a wiah
  W'en dat bah was mad; an' laws!
  But you ought to seen his paws!
  Did I see 'em? How you 'spec
  I 's a-gwine to ricollec'
  Dis hyeah ya'n I 's try'n' to spin
  Ef you keeps on puttin' in?
  You keep still an' don't you cheep
  Less I 'll sen' you off to sleep.
  Dis hyeah bah 'd go trompin' 'roun'
  Eatin' evahthing he foun';
  No one could n't have a fa'm
  But dat bah 'u'd do' em ha'm;
  And dey could n't ketch de scamp.
  Anywhah he wan'ed to tramp.
  Dah de scoun'el 'd mek his track,
  Do his du't an' come on back.
  He was sich a sly ole limb,
  Traps was jes' lak fun to him.

  Now, down neah whah Mistah Bah
  Lived, dey was a weasel dah;
  But dey was n't fren's a-tall
  Case de weasel was so small.
  An' de bah 'u'd, jes' fu' sass,
  Tu'n his nose up w'en he 'd pass.
  Weasels 's small o' cose, but my!
  Dem air animiles is sly.
  So dis hyeah one says, says he,
  "I 'll jes' fix dat bah, you see."
  So he fixes up his plan
  An' hunts up de fa'merman.
  When de fa'mer see him come,
  He 'mence lookin' mighty glum,
  An' he ketches up a stick;
  But de weasel speak up quick:
  "Hol' on, Mistah Fa'mer man,
  I wan' 'splain a little plan.
  Ef you waits, I 'll tell you whah
  An' jes' how to ketch ol' Bah.
  But I tell yow now you mus'
  Gin me one fat chicken fus'."
  Den de man he scratch his haid,
  Las' he say, "I'll mek de trade."
  So de weasel et his hen,
  Smacked his mouf and says, "Well, den,
  Set yo' trap an' bait ternight,
  An' I 'll ketch de bah all right."
  Den he ups an' goes to see
  Mistah Bah, an' says, says he:
  "Well, fren' Bah, we _ain't_ been fren's,
  But ternight ha'd feelin' 'en's.
  Ef you ain't too proud to steal,
  We kin git a splendid meal.
  Cose I would n't come to you,
  But it mus' be done by two;
  Hit's a trap, but we kin beat
  All dey tricks an' git de meat."
  "Cose I 's wif you," says de bah,
  "Come on, weasel, show me whah."
  Well, dey trots erlong ontwell
  Dat air meat beginned to smell
  In de trap. Den weasel say:
  "Now you put yo' paw dis way
  While I hol' de spring back so,
  Den you grab de meat an' go."
  Well, de bah he had to grin
  Ez he put his big paw in,
  Den he juked up, but--kerbing!
  Weasel done let go de spring.
  "Dah now," says de weasel, "dah,
  I done cotched you, Mistah Bah!"
  O, dat bah did sno't and spout,
  Try'n' his bestes' to git out,
  But de weasel say, "Goo'-bye!
  Weasel small, but weasel sly."
  Den he tu'ned his back an' run
  Tol' de fa'mer whut he done.
  So de fa'mer come down dah,
  Wif a axe and killed de bah.

  Dah now, ain't dat sto'y fine?
  Run erlong now, nevah min'.
  Want some mo', you rascal, you?
  No, suh! no, suh! dat 'll do.


AT CANDLE-LIGHTIN' TIME

  When I come in f'om de co'n-fiel' aftah wo'kin' ha'd all day,
  It 's amazin' nice to fin' my suppah all erpon de way;
  An' it 's nice to smell de coffee bubblin' ovah in de pot,
  An' it 's fine to see de meat a-sizzlin' teasin'-lak an' hot.

  But when suppah-time is ovah, an' de t'ings is cleahed away;
  Den de happy hours dat foller are de sweetes' of de day.
  When my co'ncob pipe is sta'ted, an' de smoke is drawin' prime,
  My ole 'ooman says, "I reckon, Ike, it 's candle-lightin' time."

  Den de chillun snuggle up to me, an' all commence to call,
  "Oh, say, daddy, now it 's time to mek de shadders on de wall."
  So I puts my han's togethah--evah daddy knows de way,--
  An' de chillun snuggle closer roun' ez I begin to say:--

  "Fus' thing, hyeah come Mistah Rabbit; don' you see him wo'k his eahs?
  Huh, uh! dis mus' be a donkey,--look, how innercent he 'pears!
  Dah 's de ole black swan a-swimmin'--ain't she got a' awful neck?
  Who 's dis feller dat 's a-comin'? Why, dat 's ole dog Tray, I 'spec'!"

  Dat 's de way I run on, tryin' fu' to please 'em all I can;
  Den I hollahs, "Now be keerful--dis hyeah las' 's de buga-man!"
  An' dey runs an' hides dey faces; dey ain't skeered--dey 's lettin' on:
  But de play ain't raaly ovah twell dat buga-man is gone.

  So I jes' teks up my banjo, an' I plays a little chune,
  An' you see dem haids come peepin' out to listen mighty soon.
  Den my wife says, "Sich a pappy fu' to give you sich a fright!
  Jes, you go to baid, an' leave him: say yo' prayers an' say good-night."


WHISTLING SAM

  I has hyeahd o' people dancin' an' I 's hyeahd o' people singin'.
  An' I 's been 'roun' lots of othahs dat could keep de banjo ringin';
  But of all de whistlin' da'kies dat have lived an' died since Ham,
  De whistlin'est I evah seed was ol' Ike Bates's Sam.
  In de kitchen er de stable, in de fiel' er mowin' hay,
  You could hyeah dat boy a-whistlin' pu'ty nigh a mile erway,--
  Puck'rin' up his ugly features 'twell you could n't see his eyes,
  Den you 'd hyeah a soun' lak dis un f'om dat awful puckah rise:

[Illustration: Musical score.]

  When dey had revival meetin' an' de Lawd's good grace was flowin'
  On de groun' dat needed wat'rin' whaih de seeds of good was growin',
  While de othahs was a-singin' an' a-shoutin' right an' lef,
  You could hyeah dat boy a-whistlin' kin' o' sof beneaf his bref:

[Illustration: Musical score.]

  At de call fu' colo'ed soldiers, Sam enlisted 'mong de res'
  Wid de blue o' Gawd's great ahmy wropped about his swellin' breas',
  An' he laffed an' whistled loudah in his youfful joy an' glee
  Dat de govament would let him he'p to mek his people free.
  Daih was lots o' ties to bin' him, pappy, mammy, an' his Dinah,--
  Dinah, min' you, was his sweet-hea't, an' dey was n't nary finah;
  But he lef 'em all, I tell you, lak a king he ma'ched away,
  Try'n' his level bes' to whistle, happy, solemn, choky, gay:

[Illustration: Musical score.]

  To de front he went an' bravely fought de foe an' kep' his sperrit,
  An' his comerds said his whistle made 'em strong when dey could hyeah it.
  When a saber er a bullet cut some frien' o' his'n down,
  An' de time 'u'd come to trench him an' de boys 'u'd gethah 'roun',
  An' dey could n't sta't a hymn-tune, mebbe none o' dem 'u'd keer,
  Sam 'u'd whistle "Sleep in Jesus," an' he knowed de Mastah 'd hyeah.
  In de camp, all sad discouraged, he would cheer de hea'ts of all,
  When above de soun' of labour dey could hyeah his whistle call:

[Illustration: Musical score.]

  When de cruel wah was ovah an' de boys come ma'chin' back,
  Dey was shouts an' cries an' blessin's all erlong dey happy track,
  An' de da'kies all was happy; souls an' bodies bofe was freed.
  Why, hit seemed lak de Redeemah mus' 'a' been on earf indeed.
  Dey was gethahed all one evenin' jes' befo' de cabin do',
  When dey hyeahd somebody whistlin' kin' o' sof' an' sweet an' low.
  Dey could n't see de whistlah, but de hymn was cleah and ca'm,
  An' dey all stood daih a-listenin' ontwell Dinah shouted, "Sam!"
  An' dey seed a little da'ky way off yandah thoo de trees
  Wid his face all in a puckah mekin' jes' sich soun's ez dese:

[Illustration: Musical score.]


HOW LUCY BACKSLID

  De times is mighty stirrin' 'mong de people up ouah way,
  Dey 'sputin' an' dey argyin' an' fussin' night an' day;
  An' all dis monst'ous trouble dat hit meks me tiahed to tell
  Is 'bout dat Lucy Jackson dat was sich a mighty belle.

  She was de preachah's favoured, an' he tol' de chu'ch one night
  Dat she travelled thoo de cloud o' sin a-bearin' of a light;
  But, now, I 'low he t'inkin' dat she mus' 'a' los' huh lamp,
  Case Lucy done backslided an' dey trouble in de camp.

  Huh daddy wants to beat huh, but huh mammy daihs him to,
  Fu' she lookin' at de question f'om a ooman's pint o' view;
  An' she say dat now she would n't have it diff'ent ef she could;
  Dat huh darter only acted jes' lak any othah would.

  Cose you know w'en women argy, dey is mighty easy led
  By dey hea'ts an' don't go foolin' 'bout de reasons of de haid.
  So huh mammy laid de law down (she ain' reckernizin' wrong),
  But you got to mek erlowance fu' de cause dat go along.

  Now de cause dat made Miss Lucy fu' to th'ow huh grace away
  I 's afeard won't baih no 'spection w'en hit come to jedgement day;
  Do' de same t'ing been a-wo'kin' evah sence de worl' began,--
  De ooman disobeyin' fu' to 'tice along a man.

  Ef you 'tended de revivals which we held de wintah pas',
  You kin rickolec' dat convuts was a-comin' thick an' fas';
  But dey ain't no use in talkin', dey was all lef' in de lu'ch
  W'en ol' Mis' Jackson's dartah foun' huh peace an' tuk de chu'ch.

  W'y, she shouted ovah evah inch of Ebenezah's flo';
  Up into de preachah's pulpit an' f'om dah down to de do';
  Den she hugged an' squeezed huh mammy, an' she hugged an' kissed huh dad,
  An' she struck out at huh sistah, people said, lak she was mad.

  I has 'tended some revivals dat was lively in my day,
  An' I 's seed folks git 'uligion in mos' evah kin' o' way;
  But I tell you, an' you b'lieve me dat I 's speakin' true indeed,
  Dat gal tuk huh 'ligion ha'dah dan de ha'dest yit I 's seed.

  Well, f'om dat, 't was "Sistah Jackson, won't you please do dis er dat?"
  She mus' allus sta't de singin' w'en dey 'd pass erroun' de hat,
  An' hit seemed dey was n't nuffin' in dat chu'ch dat could go by
  'Dout sistah Lucy Jackson had a finger in de pie.

  But de sayin' mighty trufeful dat hit easiah to sail
  W'en de sea is ca'm an' gentle dan to weathah out a gale.
  Dat 's whut made dis ooman's trouble; ef de sto'm had kep' away,
  She 'd 'a' had enough 'uligion fu' to lasted out huh day.

  Lucy went wid 'Lishy Davis, but w'en she jined chu'ch, you know
  Dah was lots o' little places dat, of cose, she could n't go;
  An' she had to gin up dancin' an' huh singin' an' huh play.--
  Now hit's nachul dat sich goin's-on 'u'd drive a man away.

  So, w'en Lucy got so solemn, Ike he sta'ted fu' to go
  Wid a gal who was a sinnah an' could mek a bettah show.
  Lucy jes' went on to meetin' lak she did n't keer a rap,
  But my 'sperunce kep' me t'inkin dah was somep'n' gwine to drap.

  Fu' a gal won't let 'uligion er no othah so't o' t'ing
  Stop huh w'en she teks a notion dat she wants a weddin' ring.
  You kin p'omise huh de blessin's of a happy aftah life
  (An' hit's nice to be a angel), but she 'd ravah be a wife.

  So w'en Chrismus come an' mastah gin a frolic on de lawn,
  Did n't 'sprise me not de littlest seein' Lucy lookin' on.
  An' I seed a wa'nin' lightnin' go a-flashin' f'om huh eye
  Jest ez 'Lishy an' his new gal went a-gallivantin' by.

  An' dat Tildy, umph! she giggled, an' she gin huh dress a flirt
  Lak de people she was passin' was ez common ez de dirt;
  An' de minit she was dancin', w'y dat gal put on mo' aihs
  Dan a cat a-tekin' kittens up a paih o' windin' staihs.

  She could 'fo'd to show huh sma'tness, fu' she could n't he'p but know
  Dat wid jes' de present dancahs she was ownah of de flo';
  But I t'ink she 'd kin' o' cooled down ef she happened on de sly
  Fu' to noticed dat 'ere lightnin' dat I seed in Lucy's eye.

  An' she would n't been so 'stonished w'en de people gin a shout,
  An' Lucy th'owed huh mantle back an' come a-glidin' out.
  Some ahms was dah to tek huh an' she fluttahed down de flo'
  Lak a feddah f'om a bedtick w'en de win' commence to blow.

  Soon ez Tildy see de trouble, she jes' tu'n an' toss huh haid,
  But seem lak she los' huh sperrit, all huh darin'ness was daid.
  Did n't cut anothah capah nary time de blessid night;
  But de othah one, hit looked lak could n't git enough delight.

  W'en you keeps a colt a-stan'nin' in de stable all along,
  W'en he do git out hit 's nachul he 'll be pullin' mighty strong.
  Ef you will tie up yo' feelin's, hyeah 's de bes' advice to tek,
  Look out fu' an awful loosin' w'en de string dat hol's 'em brek.

  Lucy's mammy groaned to see huh, an' huh pappy sto'med an' to',
  But she kep' right on a-hol'in' to de centah of de flo'.
  So dey went an' ast de pastoh ef he could n't mek huh quit,
  But de tellin' of de sto'y th'owed de preachah in a fit.

  Tildy Taylor chewed huh hank'cher twell she 'd chewed it in a hole,--
  All de sinnahs was rejoicin' 'cause a lamb had lef de fol',
  An' de las' I seed o' Lucy, she an' 'Lish was side an' side:
  I don't blame de gal fu' dancin', an' I could n't ef I tried.

  Fu' de men dat wants to ma'y ain't a-growin' 'roun' on trees,
  An' de gal dat wants to git one sholy has to try to please.
  Hit's a ha'd t'ing fu' a ooman fu 'to pray an' jes' set down,
  An' to sacafice a husban' so 's to try to gain a crown.

  Now, I don' say she was justified in follerin' huh plan;
  But aldough she los' huh 'ligion, yit she sholy got de man.
  Latah on, w'en she is suttain dat de preachah 's made 'em fas'
  She kin jes' go back to chu'ch an' ax fu'giveness fu' de pas'!

This page has paths: