African American Poetry: A Digital Anthology

Roasalie M. Jonas, "Crowded Out" (1924)

Nobody ain't Christmas shoppin'
Fur his stockin'!
Nobody ain't cotch no Tukkey,
Nobody ain't bake no pie,
Nobody's laid nuthin' by;
"Santy" ain't got nothin' hid
Fur his Mammy's little kid.

Seem like eve'body rushin'
An'er crushin', 
Crowdin' shops an' jammin' trolleys,
Buyin' shoes an' shirts an' toys
Fur de white  folks girls an' boys,
But no hobby-horse ain't rockin'
By his little wore-out stockin'.
He ain't quar'lin', recollec',
He don't spec'
Nuthin'--hits his not expectin',
Makes his Mammy wish, O Laws!
Fur a Po Folks Santa Claus,
Totin' any kind er toy
Fur his Mammy's honey-boy!


Published in The Crisis, January 1924

This page has tags: