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

Killin' Nanny

Two little pickny is watchin',
   While a goat is led to deat'; 
Dey are little ones of two years,
   An' know naught of badness yet.

De goat is bawlin' fe mussy,
   An' de children watch de sight
As de butcher re'ch his sharp knife,
   An' 'tab wid all his might.

Dey see de red blood flowin';
   An' one chil' trimble an' hide
His face in de mudder's bosom,
   While t'udder look on wide-eyed.

De tears is fallin' down hotly
   From him on de mudder's knee;
De udder wid joy is starin',
   An' clappin' his han's wid glee.

When dey had forgotten Nanny,
   Grown men I see dem again;
An' de forehead of de laugher
   Was brand' wid de mark of Cain. 

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