Waverly T. Carmichael, "'Taint No Need O' Women Worrin' "(1918)
Dey jest like a paper bag w'en it's full o' win'.
Dey will call us sugar pie an' will treat us nice
Till dey git us horn' wid dem fur to be dere wife.
Things will go 'long very well fur a week or two
Den you'll see 'em settin' 'round frownin' atter you;
'Tain't no need o' women worrin' 'bout dese sorry men,
Dey jest like a paper bag w'en it's full o' win'.
See dem walkin' 'long wid you, holdin' to yo' arm—
Don' you mind 'em, dat's a stunt, dey are full o' harm.
Dey -kin tell de biggis' lies most you ever seen,
An' kin pet an' honey you like you was a queen.
One caught up wid me las' night, strutin' wid a cane,
Rais'd 'is hat an' gin a bow, "How'd do Mis' Lizer Jane?"
I didn't axe him how he done, which wus a hint to him
Dat I perfer'd a paper bag w'en it's full o' win'.
You better keep yo' eyes on dem, dey'll fool you if dey kin',
Den go eroun' an' make dere brag to all de other men;
Dey'll come eroun' an' talk sweet talk an' dey won' let you res'
But let 'em git you fur a wife, dey'll beat you outer bref;
W'en you see dey ain't no good, jest let 'em pas' on by,
Cause sho' as you fool 'long wid dem,—dem fools'll make you cry!
'Tain't no use o' women worrin' 'bout dese sorry men,
Dey jest like a paper bag w'en it's full o' win'.
If I ever marry one, he sho' is got to work,
I'll not work myself to death w'ile he set an' shirk;
Many women are today sleepin' in dere graves
'Cause dey work demself's to death like dey all was slaves.
But w'at you think of Jacob Quinn,—he is mighty nice,
An' you kno' I's promis' him I would be his wife;
Let me stop my crazy talk, I kno' I love de men
If dey are like a paper bag w'en it's full o' win'.
Published in The Crisis, January 1918