Claude McKay's Early Poetry (1911-1922): A Digital Collection

Cotch Donkey



Ko how de jackass  
   Lay do'n in de road;
An' him ondly car'
   Little bit o' load.

Kue, jackass, git up!
   'Tan' up 'pon you' foot
Dis ya load no load,
   You's a lazy brut'.
 
Me no know wha' mek
   Pa won' swop you too;
For dere's not a t'ing
   Wut while you can do.
 
Ef you car' no load,
   It is all de same;
Hamper on or no,
   'Tis de ushal game.

Póliceman a come
   Fe go mek a row,
All because o' you
   Wid you' wutless now.

"See ya, Sah, no min',
   Dis a fe me luck;
De jackass is bad,
   Him no wan' fe wuk.

"'Tek de hamper off?'
   Him no hab no cut :
Me deh tell you say
   De jackass no wut.
 
"Lard! me Gahd o' me!
   Him got one lee 'cratch :
Dat is not'in', Sah,
   For him always cotch.

Do, Sah, let me off,
   Ef fe te-day one;
For a no de 'cratch
   Cause him fe lay do'n."

Now because o' you
   Dem gone bring me up
An' wha' hu't me mos',
   You caan' wuk a tup.

Ef dem summons me,
   Mek me pay few mac,
Dat caan' mek me 'top
   Wuk you wid sore back.
 

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