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

Reveille Soun'in'

REVEILLE! de reveille soun',
   Depôt p'liceman mus' wake up;
Some mus' dress fe go to town,
   Some to Parade fe shake-up

You lazy ones can lay down still,
   We have no time fe dat;
De wake-ups comin' roun', an' you'll
   Jump as you feel de cat. 

For soon de half pas' dress will blow
   Fe we to go a-drillin';
De time is bery short, an' so
   We mus' be quick an' willin'. 

A marnin' bade is sweet fe true,
   But we mus' quick fe done;
It col' dough,so it's only few
   Can stan' it how it bu'n.

'Tis quarter warnin' soun'in' now,
   Our arms mus' clean an' soun';
We will ketch 'port ef we allow
   A speck fe lodge aroun'. 

Tip blow yet? good Lard! hear" fall in,"
   Must double 'pon de grass;
I didn' know de las' call be'n
   Deh blow on us so fas'. 

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