Back Aa

Fifty Years & Other Poems

<h1>FIFTY YEARS & OTHER POEMS</h1>     <h3>BY</h3> <h2>JAMES WELDON JOHNSON</h2> <h4>AUTHOR OF</h4> <h4>"THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN EX-COLORED MAN," ETC.</h4>     <h3>With an Introduction by</h3> <h2>BRANDER MATTHEWS</h2>   <div class="center"><ANTIMG src="images/image_1.jpg" alt="Seal" width-obs="150" height-obs="177" /></div>       <h3>THE CORNHILL COMPANY BOSTON 1917</h3> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h3>To</h3> <h2>G. N. F. </h2> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>ACKNOWLEDGMENT</h2> For permission to reprint certain poems in this book thanks are due to the editors and proprietors of the Century Magazine, the Independent, The Crisis, The New York Times, and the following copyright holders, G. Ricordi and Company, G. Schirmer and Company, and Joseph W. Stern and Company. <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>CONTENTS</h2> <table summary="Contents"> <tr><td ></td><td class="tocpg" >Page</td> </tr> <tr><td >Fifty Years</td> <td class="tocpg" >1</td> </tr> <tr><td >To America</td> <td class="tocpg" >5</td> </tr> <tr><td >O Black and Unknown Bards</td> <td class="tocpg" >6</td> </tr> <tr><td >O Southland</td> <td class="tocpg" >8</td> </tr> <tr><td >To Horace Bumstead</td> <td class="tocpg" >10</td> </tr> <tr><td >The Color Sergeant</td> <td class="tocpg" >11</td> </tr> <tr><td >The Black Mammy</td> <td class="tocpg" >12</td> </tr> <tr><td >Father, Father Abraham</td> <td class="tocpg" >13</td> </tr> <tr><td >Brothers</td> <td class="tocpg" >14</td> </tr> <tr><td >Fragment</td> <td class="tocpg" >17</td> </tr> <tr><td >The White Witch</td> <td class="tocpg" >19</td> </tr> <tr><td >Mother Night</td> <td class="tocpg" >22</td> </tr> <tr><td >The Young Warrior</td> <td class="tocpg" >23</td> </tr> <tr><td >The Glory of the Day Was in Her Face</td> <td class="tocpg" >24</td> </tr> <tr><td >From the Spanish of Plácido</td> <td class="tocpg" >25</td> </tr> <tr><td >From the Spanish</td> <td class="tocpg" >25</td> </tr> <tr><td >From the German of Uhland</td> <td class="tocpg" >26</td> </tr> <tr><td >Before a Painting</td> <td class="tocpg">27</td></tr> <tr><td >I Hear the Stars Still Singing</td> <td class="tocpg">27</td></tr> <tr><td >Girl of Fifteen</td> <td class="tocpg">28</td></tr> <tr><td >The Suicide</td> <td class="tocpg">29</td></tr> <tr><td >Down by the Carib Sea</td> <td class="tocpg">30</td></tr> <tr><td >I.   Sunrise in the Tropics</td> <td class="tocpg">30</td></tr> <tr><td >II.  Los Cigarillos</td> <td class="tocpg">31</td></tr> <tr><td >III. Teestay</td> <td class="tocpg">32</td></tr> <tr><td > IV. The Lottery Girl</td> <td class="tocpg">33</td></tr> <tr><td >V.   The Dancing Girl</td> <td class="tocpg">34</td></tr> <tr><td > VI.  Sunset in the Tropics</td> <td class="tocpg">36</td></tr> <tr><td >The Greatest of These Is War</td> <td class="tocpg">37</td></tr> <tr><td >A Mid-Day Dreamer</td> <td class="tocpg">40</td></tr> <tr><td >The Temptress</td> <td class="tocpg">41</td></tr> <tr><td >Ghosts of the Old Year</td> <td class="tocpg">42</td></tr> <tr><td >The Ghost of Deacon Brown</td> <td class="tocpg">43</td></tr> <tr><td >Lazy</td> <td class="tocpg">45</td></tr> <tr><td >Omar</td> <td class="tocpg">46</td></tr> <tr><td >Deep in the Quiet Wood</td> <td class="tocpg">47</td></tr> <tr><td >Voluptas</td> <td class="tocpg">47</td></tr> <tr><td >The Word of an Engineer</td> <td class="tocpg">48</td></tr> <tr><td >Life</td> <td class="tocpg">49</td></tr> <tr><td >Sleep</td> <td class="tocpg">50</td></tr> <tr><td >Prayer at Sunrise</td> <td class="tocpg">51</td></tr> <tr><td >The Gift to Sing</td> <td class="tocpg">52</td></tr> <tr><td >Morning, Noon and Night</td> <td class="tocpg">52</td></tr> <tr><td >Her Eyes Twin Pools</td> <td class="tocpg">53</td></tr> <tr><td >The Awakening</td> <td class="tocpg">54</td></tr> <tr><td >Beauty That Is Never Old</td> <td class="tocpg">55</td></tr> <tr><td >Venus in a Garden</td> <td class="tocpg">56</td></tr> <tr><td >Vashti</td> <td class="tocpg">57</td></tr> <tr><td >The Reward</td> <td class="tocpg">60</td></tr> <tr> <td > </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr><td >JINGLES & CROONS</td><td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td > </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr><td >Sence You Went Away</td> <td class="tocpg">63</td></tr> <tr><td >Ma Lady's Lips Am Like de Honey</td> <td class="tocpg">64</td></tr> <tr><td >Tunk</td> <td class="tocpg">66</td></tr> <tr><td >Nobody's Lookin' but de Owl an' de Moon</td> <td class="tocpg">69</td></tr> <tr><td >You's Sweet to Yo' Mammy Jes de Same</td> <td class="tocpg">70</td></tr> <tr><td >A Plantation Bacchanal</td> <td class="tocpg">71</td></tr> <tr><td >July in Georgy</td> <td class="tocpg">73</td></tr> <tr><td >A Banjo Song</td> <td class="tocpg">74</td></tr> <tr><td >Answer to Prayer</td> <td class="tocpg">75</td></tr> <tr><td >Dat Gal o' Mine</td> <td class="tocpg">77</td></tr> <tr><td >The Seasons</td> <td class="tocpg">78</td></tr> <tr><td >'Possum Song</td> <td class="tocpg">79</td></tr> <tr><td >Brer Rabbit, You'se de Cutes' of 'Em All</td> <td class="tocpg">81</td></tr> <tr><td >An Explanation</td> <td class="tocpg">82</td></tr> <tr><td >De Little Pickaninny's Gone to Sleep</td> <td class="tocpg">83</td></tr> <tr><td >The Rivals</td> <td class="tocpg">84</td></tr> </table> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [xi] <h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> Of the hundred millions who make up the population of the United States ten millions come from a stock ethnically alien to the other ninety millions. They are not descended from ancestors who came here voluntarily, in the spirit of adventure to better themselves or in the spirit of devotion to make sure of freedom to worship God in their own way. They are the grandchildren of men and women brought here against their wills to serve as slaves. It is only half-a-century since they received their freedom and since they were at last permitted to own themselves. They are now American citizens, with the rights and the duties of other American citizens; and they know no language, no literature and no law other than those of their fellow citizens of Anglo-Saxon ancestry. When we take stock of ourselves these ten millions cannot be left out of account. Yet they are not as we are; they stand apart, more or less; they have their own distinct characteristics. It behooves us to understand them as best we can and to discover what manner of people they are. And we are justified in inquiring how far they have revealed themselves,[xii] their racial characteristics, their abiding traits, their longing aspirations,—how far have they disclosed these in one or another of the several arts. They have had their poets, their painters, their composers, and yet most of these have ignored their racial opportunity and have worked in imitation and in emulation of their white predecessors and contemporaries, content to handle again the traditional themes. The most important and the most significant contributions they have made to art are in music,—first in the plaintive beauty of the so-called "Negro spirituals"—and, secondly, in the syncopated melody of so-called "ragtime" which has now taken the whole world captive. In poetry, especially in the lyric, wherein the soul is free to find full expression for its innermost emotions, their attempts have been, for the most part, divisible into two classes. In the first of these may be grouped the verses in which the lyrist put forth sentiments common to all mankind and in no wise specifically those of his own race; and from the days of Phyllis Wheatley to the present the most of the poems written by men who were not wholly white are indistinguishable from the poems written by men who were wholly white. Whatever their merits might be, these verses cast[xiii] little or no light upon the deeper racial sentiments of the people to whom the poets themselves belonged. But in the lyrics to be grouped in the second of these classes there was a racial quality. This contained the dialect verses in which there was an avowed purpose of recapturing the color, the flavor, the movement of life in "the quarters," in the cotton field and in the canebrake. Even in this effort, white authors had led the way; Irvin Russell and Joel Chandler Harris had made the path straight for Paul Laurence Dunbar, with his lilting lyrics, often infused with the pathos of a down-trodden folk. In the following pages Mr. James Weldon Johnson conforms to both of these traditions. He gathers together a group of lyrics, delicate in workmanship, fragrant with sentiment, and phrased in pure and unexceptionable English. Then he has another group of dialect verses, racy of the soil, pungent in flavor, swinging in rhythm and adroit in rhyme. But where he shows himself a pioneer is the half-dozen larger and bolder poems, of a loftier strain, in which he has been nobly successful in expressing the higher aspirations of his own people. It is in uttering this cry for recognition, for sympathy, for understanding, and above all, for justice, that Mr. Johnson is most original and most powerful. In the superb and soaring[xiv] stanzas of "Fifty Years" (published exactly half-a-century after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation) he has given us one of the noblest commemorative poems yet written by any American,—a poem sonorous in its diction, vigorous in its workmanship, elevated in its imagination and sincere in its emotion. In it speaks the voice of his race; and the race is fortunate in its spokesman. In it a fine theme has been finely treated. In it we are made to see something of the soul of the people who are our fellow citizens now and forever,—even if we do not always so regard them. In it we are glad to acclaim a poem which any living poet might be proud to call his own. Brander Matthews. Columbia University in the City of New York. <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [1] <h2>FIFTY YEARS & OTHER POEMS </h2> <h3>FIFTY YEARS</h3> <h3>1863-1913</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> O brothers mine, to-day we stand Where half a century sweeps our ken, Since God, through Lincoln's ready hand, Struck off our bonds and made us men. </div> <div class="stanza"> Just fifty years—a winter's day— As runs the history of a race; Yet, as we look back o'er the way, How distant seems our starting place! </div> <div class="stanza"> Look farther back! Three centuries! To where a naked, shivering score, Snatched from their haunts across the seas, Stood, wild-eyed, on Virginia's shore. </div> <div class="stanza"> Far, far the way that we have trod, From heathen kraals and jungle dens, To freedmen, freemen, sons of God, Americans and Citizens. </div> <div class="stanza"> A part of His unknown design, We've lived within a mighty age; And we have helped to write a line On history's most wondrous page. [2]</div> <div class="stanza"> A few black bondmen strewn along The borders of our eastern coast, Now grown a race, ten million strong, An upward, onward marching host. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then let us here erect a stone, To mark the place, to mark the time; A witness to God's mercies shown, A pledge to hold this day sublime. </div> <div class="stanza"> And let that stone an altar be, Whereon thanksgivings we may lay, Where we, in deep humility, For faith and strength renewed may pray. </div> <div class="stanza"> With open hearts ask from above New zeal, new courage and new pow'rs, That we may grow more worthy of This country and this land of ours. </div> <div class="stanza"> For never let the thought arise That we are here on sufferance bare; Outcasts, asylumed 'neath these skies, And aliens without part or share. </div> <div class="stanza"> This land is ours by right of birth, This land is ours by right of toil; We helped to turn its virgin earth, Our sweat is in its fruitful soil. [3]</div> <div class="stanza"> Where once the tangled forest stood,— Where flourished once rank weed and thorn,— Behold the path-traced, peaceful wood, The cotton white, the yellow corn. </div> <div class="stanza"> To gain these fruits that have been earned, To hold these fields that have been won, Our arms have strained, our backs have burned, Bent bare beneath a ruthless sun. </div> <div class="stanza"> That Banner which is now the type Of victory on field and flood— Remember, its first crimson stripe Was dyed by Attucks' willing blood. </div> <div class="stanza"> And never yet has come the cry— When that fair flag has been assailed— For men to do, for men to die, That have we faltered or have failed. </div> <div class="stanza"> We've helped to bear it, rent and torn, Through many a hot-breath'd battle breeze; Held in our hands, it has been borne And planted far across the seas. </div> <div class="stanza"> And never yet—O haughty Land, Let us, at least, for this be praised— Has one black, treason-guided hand Ever against that flag been raised. [4]</div> <div class="stanza"> Then should we speak but servile words, Or shall we hang our heads in shame? Stand back of new-come foreign hordes, And fear our heritage to claim? </div> <div class="stanza"> No! stand erect and without fear, And for our foes let this suffice— We've bought a rightful sonship here, And we have more than paid the price. </div> <div class="stanza"> And yet, my brothers, well I know The tethered feet, the pinioned wings, The spirit bowed beneath the blow, The heart grown faint from wounds and stings; </div> <div class="stanza"> The staggering force of brutish might, That strikes and leaves us stunned and daezd; The long, vain waiting through the night To hear some voice for justice raised. </div> <div class="stanza"> Full well I know the hour when hope Sinks dead, and 'round us everywhere Hangs stifling darkness, and we grope With hands uplifted in despair. </div> <div class="stanza"> Courage! Look out, beyond, and see The far horizon's beckoning span! Faith in your God-known destiny! We are a part of some great plan. [5]</div> <div class="stanza"> Because the tongues of Garrison And Phillips now are cold in death, Think you their work can be undone? Or quenched the fires lit by their breath? </div> <div class="stanza"> Think you that John Brown's spirit stops? That Lovejoy was but idly slain? Or do you think those precious drops From Lincoln's heart were shed in vain? </div> <div class="stanza"> That for which millions prayed and sighed, That for which tens of thousands fought, For which so many freely died, God cannot let it come to naught. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>TO AMERICA</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> How would you have us, as we are? Or sinking 'neath the load we bear? Our eyes fixed forward on a star? Or gazing empty at despair? </div> <div class="stanza"> Rising or falling? Men or things? With dragging pace or footsteps fleet? Strong, willing sinews in your wings? Or tightening chains about your feet? </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [6] <h2>O BLACK AND UNKNOWN BARDS</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> O black and unknown bards of long ago, How came your lips to touch the sacred fire? How, in your darkness, did you come to know The power and beauty of the minstrel's lyre? Who first from midst his bonds lifted his eyes? Who first from out the still watch, lone and long, Feeling the ancient faith of prophets rise Within his dark-kept soul, burst into song? </div> <div class="stanza"> Heart of what slave poured out such melody As "Steal away to Jesus"? On its strains His spirit must have nightly floated free, Though still about his hands he felt his chains. Who heard great "Jordan roll"? Whose starward eye Saw chariot "swing low"? And who was he That breathed that comforting, melodic sigh, "Nobody knows de trouble I see"? </div> <div class="stanza"> What merely living clod, what captive thing, Could up toward God through all its darkness grope, And find within its deadened heart to sing These songs of sorrow, love, and faith, and hope? How did it catch that subtle undertone, That note in music heard not with the ears? [7]How sound the elusive reed so seldom blown, Which stirs the soul or melts the heart to tears. </div> <div class="stanza"> Not that great German master in his dream Of harmonies that thundered amongst the stars At the creation, ever heard a theme Nobler than "Go down, Moses." Mark its bars, How like a mighty trumpet-call they stir The blood. Such are the notes that men have sung Going to valorous deeds; such tones there were That helped make history when Time was young. </div> <div class="stanza"> There is a wide, wide wonder in it all, That from degraded rest and servile toil The fiery spirit of the seer should call These simple children of the sun and soil. O black slave singers, gone, forgot, unfamed, You—you alone, of all the long, long line Of those who've sung untaught, unknown, unnamed, Have stretched out upward, seeking the divine. </div> <div class="stanza"> You sang not deeds of heroes or of kings; No chant of bloody war, no exulting pean Of arms-won triumphs; but your humble strings You touched in chord with music empyrean. [8]You sang far better than you knew; the songs That for your listeners' hungry hearts sufficed Still live,—but more than this to you belongs: You sang a race from wood and stone to Christ. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>O SOUTHLAND!</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> O Southland! O Southland! Have you not heard the call, The trumpet blown, the word made known To the nations, one and all? The watchword, the hope-word, Salvation's present plan? A gospel new, for all—for you: Man shall be saved by man. </div> <div class="stanza"> O Southland! O Southland! Do you not hear to-day The mighty beat of onward feet, And know you not their way? 'Tis forward, 'tis upward, On to the fair white arch Of Freedom's dome, and there is room For each man who would march. </div> <div class="stanza"> O Southland, fair Southland! Then why do you still cling To an idle age and a musty page, To a dead and useless thing? [9]'Tis springtime! 'Tis work-time! The world is young again! And God's above, and God is love, And men are only men. </div> <div class="stanza"> O Southland! my Southland! O birthland! do not shirk The toilsome task, nor respite ask, But gird you for the work. Remember, remember That weakness stalks in pride; That he is strong who helps along The faint one at his side. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [10] <h2>To HORACE BUMSTEAD</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Have you been sore discouraged in the fight, And even sometimes weighted by the thought That those with whom and those for whom you fought Lagged far behind, or dared but faintly smite? And that the opposing forces in their might Of blind inertia rendered as for naught All that throughout the long years had been wrought, And powerless each blow for Truth and Right? </div> <div class="stanza"> If so, take new and greater courage then, And think no more withouten help you stand; For sure as God on His eternal throne Sits, mindful of the sinful deeds of men, —The awful Sword of Justice in His hand,— You shall not, no, you shall not, fight alone. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [11] <h2>THE COLOR SERGEANT</h2> <h3>(On an Incident at the Battle of San Juan Hill)</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Under a burning tropic sun, With comrades around him lying, A trooper of the sable Tenth Lay wounded, bleeding, dying. </div> <div class="stanza"> First in the charge up the fort-crowned hill, His company's guidon bearing, He had rushed where the leaden hail fell fast, Not death nor danger fearing. </div> <div class="stanza"> He fell in the front where the fight grew fierce, Still faithful in life's last labor; Black though his skin, yet his heart as true As the steel of his blood-stained saber. </div> <div class="stanza"> And while the battle around him rolled, Like the roar of a sullen breaker, He closed his eyes on the bloody scene, And presented arms to his Maker. </div> <div class="stanza"> There he lay, without honor or rank, But, still, in a grim-like beauty; Despised of men for his humble race, Yet true, in death, to his duty. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [12] <h2>THE BLACK MAMMY</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> O whitened head entwined in turban gay, O kind black face, O crude, but tender hand, O foster-mother in whose arms there lay The race whose sons are masters of the land! It was thine arms that sheltered in their fold, It was thine eyes that followed through the length Of infant days these sons. In times of old It was thy breast that nourished them to strength. </div> <div class="stanza"> So often hast thou to thy bosom pressed The golden head, the face and brow of snow; So often has it 'gainst thy broad, dark breast Lain, set off like a quickened cameo. Thou simple soul, as cuddling down that babe With thy sweet croon, so plaintive and so wild, Came ne'er the thought to thee, swift like a stab, That it some day might crush thine own black child? </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [13] <h2>FATHER, FATHER ABRAHAM</h2> <h3>(On the Anniversary of Lincoln's Birth)</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Father, Father Abraham, To-day look on us from above; On us, the offspring of thy faith, The children of thy Christ-like love. </div> <div class="stanza"> For that which we have humbly wrought, Give us to-day thy kindly smile; Wherein we've failed or fallen short, Bear with us, Father, yet awhile. </div> <div class="stanza"> Father, Father Abraham, To-day we lift our hearts to thee, Filled with the thought of what great price Was paid, that we might ransomed be. </div> <div class="stanza"> To-day we consecrate ourselves Anew in hand and heart and brain, To send this judgment down the years: The ransom was not paid in vain. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [14] <h2>BROTHERS</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> See! There he stands; not brave, but with an air Of sullen stupor. Mark him well! Is he Not more like brute than man? Look in his eye! No light is there; none, save the glint that shines In the now glaring, and now shifting orbs Of some wild animal caught in the hunter's trap. </div> <div class="stanza"> How came this beast in human shape and form? Speak, man!—We call you man because you wear His shape—How are you thus? Are you not from That docile, child-like, tender-hearted race Which we have known three centuries? Not from That more than faithful race which through three wars Fed our dear wives and nursed our helpless babes Without a single breach of trust? Speak out! </div> <div class="stanza"> I am, and am not. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then who, why are you? [15]</div> <div class="stanza"> I am a thing not new, I am as old As human nature. I am that which lurks, Ready to spring whenever a bar is loosed; The ancient trait which fights incessantly Against restraint, balks at the upward climb; The weight forever seeking to obey The law of downward pull;—and I am more: The bitter fruit am I of planted seed; The resultant, the inevitable end Of evil forces and the powers of wrong. </div> <div class="stanza"> Lessons in degradation, taught and learned, The memories of cruel sights and deeds, The pent-up bitterness, the unspent hate Filtered through fifteen generations have Sprung up and found in me sporadic life. In me the muttered curse of dying men, On me the stain of conquered women, and Consuming me the fearful fires of lust, Lit long ago, by other hands than mine. In me the down-crushed spirit, the hurled-back prayers Of wretches now long dead,—their dire bequests.— In me the echo of the stifled cry Of children for their bartered mothers' breasts. I claim no race, no race claims me; I am No more than human dregs; degenerate; The monstrous offspring of the monster, Sin; [16]I am—just what I am.... The race that fed Your wives and nursed your babes would do the same To-day, but I— </div> <div class="stanza"> Enough, the brute must die! Quick! Chain him to that oak! It will resist The fire much longer than this slender pine. Now bring the fuel! Pile it 'round him! Wait! Pile not so fast or high! or we shall lose The agony and terror in his face. And now the torch! Good fuel that! the flames Already leap head-high. Ha! hear that shriek! And there's another! wilder than the first. Fetch water! Water! Pour a little on The fire, lest it should burn too fast. Hold so! Now let it slowly blaze again. See there! He squirms! He groans! His eyes bulge wildly out, Searching around in vain appeal for help! Another shriek, the last! Watch how the flesh Grows crisp and hangs till, turned to ash, it sifts Down through the coils of chain that hold erect The ghastly frame against the bark-scorched tree. </div> <div class="stanza"> Stop! to each man no more than one man's share. You take that bone, and you this tooth; the chain— [17]Let us divide its links; this skull, of course, In fair division, to the leader comes. </div> <div class="stanza"> And now his fiendish crime has been avenged; Let us back to our wives and children.—Say, What did he mean by those last muttered words, "Brothers in spirit, brothers in deed are we"? </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>FRAGMENT</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> The hand of Fate cannot be stayed, The course of Fate cannot be steered, By all the gods that man has made, Nor all the devils he has feared, Not by the prayers that might be prayed In all the temples he has reared. </div> <div class="stanza"> See! In your very midst there dwell Ten thousand thousand blacks, a wedge Forged in the furnaces of hell, And sharpened to a cruel edge By wrong and by injustice fell, And driven by hatred as a sledge. </div> <div class="stanza"> A wedge so slender at the start— Just twenty slaves in shackles bound— And yet, which split the land apart [18]With shrieks of war and battle sound, Which pierced the nation's very heart, And still lies cankering in the wound. </div> <div class="stanza"> Not all the glory of your pride, Preserved in story and in song, Can from the judging future hide, Through all the coming ages long, That though you bravely fought and died, You fought and died for what was wrong. </div> <div class="stanza"> 'Tis fixed—for them that violate The eternal laws, naught shall avail Till they their error expiate; Nor shall their unborn children fail To pay the full required weight Into God's great, unerring scale. </div> <div class="stanza"> Think not repentance can redeem, That sin his wages can withdraw; No, think as well to change the scheme Of worlds that move in reverent awe; Forgiveness is an idle dream, God is not love, no, God is law. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [19] <h2>THE WHITE WITCH</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> O, brothers mine, take care! Take care! The great white witch rides out to-night, Trust not your prowess nor your strength; Your only safety lies in flight; For in her glance there is a snare, And in her smile there is a blight. </div> <div class="stanza"> The great white witch you have not seen? Then, younger brothers mine, forsooth, Like nursery children you have looked For ancient hag and snaggled tooth; But no, not so; the witch appears In all the glowing charms of youth. </div> <div class="stanza"> Her lips are like carnations red, Her face like new-born lilies fair, Her eyes like ocean waters blue, She moves with subtle grace and air, And all about her head there floats The golden glory of her hair. </div> <div class="stanza"> But though she always thus appears In form of youth and mood of mirth, Unnumbered centuries are hers, [20]The infant planets saw her birth; The child of throbbing Life is she, Twin sister to the greedy earth. </div> <div class="stanza"> And back behind those smiling lips, And down within those laughing eyes, And underneath the soft caress Of hand and voice and purring sighs, The shadow of the panther lurks, The spirit of the vampire lies. </div> <div class="stanza"> For I have seen the great white witch, And she has led me to her lair, And I have kissed her red, red lips And cruel face so white and fair; Around me she has twined her arms, And bound me with her yellow hair. </div> <div class="stanza"> I felt those red lips burn and sear My body like a living coal; Obeyed the power of those eyes As the needle trembles to the pole; And did not care although I felt The strength go ebbing from my soul. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh! she has seen your strong young limbs, And heard your laughter loud and gay, And in your voices she has caught [21]The echo of a far-off day, When man was closer to the earth; And she has marked you for her prey. </div> <div class="stanza"> She feels the old Antæan strength In you, the great dynamic beat Of primal passions, and she sees In you the last besieged retreat Of love relentless, lusty, fierce, Love pain-ecstatic, cruel-sweet. </div> <div class="stanza"> O, brothers mine, take care! Take care! The great white witch rides out to-night. O, younger brothers mine, beware! Look not upon her beauty bright; For in her glance there is a snare, And in her smile there is a blight. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [22] <h2>MOTHER NIGHT</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Eternities before the first-born day, Or ere the first sun fledged his wings of flame, Calm Night, the everlasting and the same, A brooding mother over chaos lay. And whirling suns shall blaze and then decay, Shall run their fiery courses and then claim The haven of the darkness whence they came; Back to Nirvanic peace shall grope their way. </div> <div class="stanza"> So when my feeble sun of life burns out, And sounded is the hour for my long sleep, I shall, full weary of the feverish light, Welcome the darkness without fear or doubt, And heavy-lidded, I shall softly creep Into the quiet bosom of the Night. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [23] <h2>THE YOUNG WARRIOR</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Mother, shed no mournful tears, But gird me on my sword; And give no utterance to thy fears, But bless me with thy word. </div> <div class="stanza"> The lines are drawn! The fight is on! A cause is to be won! Mother, look not so white and wan; Give Godspeed to thy son. </div> <div class="stanza"> Now let thine eyes my way pursue Where'er my footsteps fare; And when they lead beyond thy view, Send after me a prayer. </div> <div class="stanza"> But pray not to defend from harm, Nor danger to dispel; Pray, rather, that with steadfast arm I fight the battle well. </div> <div class="stanza"> Pray, mother of mine, that I always keep My heart and purpose strong, My sword unsullied and ready to leap Unsheathed against the wrong. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [24] <h2>THE GLORY OF THE DAY WAS IN HER FACE</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> The glory of the day was in her face, The beauty of the night was in her eyes. And over all her loveliness, the grace Of Morning blushing in the early skies. </div> <div class="stanza"> And in her voice, the calling of the dove; Like music of a sweet, melodious part. And in her smile, the breaking light of love; And all the gentle virtues in her heart. </div> <div class="stanza"> And now the glorious day, the beauteous night, The birds that signal to their mates at dawn, To my dull ears, to my tear-blinded sight Are one with all the dead, since she is gone. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [25] <h2>SONNET</h2> <h3>(From the Spanish of Plácido)</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Enough of love! Let break its every hold! Ended my youthful folly! for I know That, like the dazzling, glister-shedding snow, Celia, thou art beautiful, but cold. I do not find in thee that warmth which glows, Which, all these dreary days, my heart has sought, That warmth without which love is lifeless, naught More than a painted fruit, a waxen rose. </div> <div class="stanza"> Such love as thine, scarce can it bear love's name, Deaf to the pleading notes of his sweet lyre, A frank, impulsive heart I wish to claim, A heart that blindly follows its desire. I wish to embrace a woman full of flame, I want to kiss a woman made of fire. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>FROM THE SPANISH</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Twenty years go by on noiseless feet, He returns, and once again they meet, She exclaims, "Good heavens! and is that he?" He mutters, "My God! and that is she!" </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [26] <h2>FROM THE GERMAN OF UHLAND</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Three students once tarried over the Rhine, And into Frau Wirthin's turned to dine. </div> <div class="stanza"> "Say, hostess, have you good beer and wine? And where is that pretty daughter of thine?" </div> <div class="stanza"> "My beer and wine is fresh and clear. My daughter lies on her funeral bier." </div> <div class="stanza"> They softly tipped into the room; She lay there in the silent gloom. </div> <div class="stanza"> The first the white cloth gently raised, And tearfully upon her gazed. </div> <div class="stanza"> "If thou wert alive, O, lovely maid, My heart at thy feet would to-day be laid!" </div> <div class="stanza"> The second covered her face again, And turned away with grief and pain. </div> <div class="stanza"> "Ah, thou upon thy snow-white bier! And I have loved thee so many a year." </div> <div class="stanza"> The third drew back again the veil, And kissed the lips so cold and pale. </div> <div class="stanza"> "I've loved thee always, I love thee to-day, And will love thee, yes, forever and aye!" </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [27] <h2>BEFORE A PAINTING</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I knew not who had wrought with skill so fine What I beheld; nor by what laws of art He had created life and love and heart On canvas, from mere color, curve and line. Silent I stood and made no move or sign; Not with the crowd, but reverently apart; Nor felt the power my rooted limbs to start, But mutely gazed upon that face divine. </div> <div class="stanza"> And over me the sense of beauty fell, As music over a raptured listener to The deep-voiced organ breathing out a hymn; Or as on one who kneels, his beads to tell, There falls the aureate glory filtered through The windows in some old cathedral dim. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>I HEAR THE STARS STILL SINGING</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I hear the stars still singing To the beautiful, silent night, As they speed with noiseless winging Their ever westward flight. I hear the waves still falling On the stretch of lonely shore, But the sound of a sweet voice calling I shall hear, alas! no more. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [28] <h2>GIRL OF FIFTEEN</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Girl of fifteen, I see you each morning from my window As you pass on your way to school. I do more than see, I watch you. I furtively draw the curtain aside. And my heart leaps through my eyes And follows you down the street; Leaving me behind, half-hid And wholly ashamed. </div> <div class="stanza"> What holds me back, Half-hid behind the curtains and wholly ashamed, But my forty years beyond your fifteen? </div> <div class="stanza"> Girl of fifteen, as you pass There passes, too, a lightning flash of time In which you lift those forty summers off my head, And take those forty winters out of my heart. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [29] <h2>THE SUICIDE</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> For fifty years, Cruel, insatiable Old World, You have punched me over the heart Till you made me cough blood. The few paltry things I gathered You snatched out of my hands. You have knocked the cup from my thirsty lips. You have laughed at my hunger of body and soul. </div> <div class="stanza"> You look at me now and think, "He is still strong, There ought to be twenty more years of good punching there. At the end of that time he will be old and broken, Not able to strike back, But cringing and crying for leave To live a little longer." </div> <div class="stanza"> Those twenty, pitiful, extra years Would please you more than the fifty past, Would they not, Old World? Well, I hold them up before your greedy eyes, And snatch them away as I laugh in your face, Ha! Ha! Bang—! </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [30] <h2>DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA</h2> <h3>I</h3> <h3>Sunrise in the Tropics</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Sol, Sol, mighty lord of the tropic zone, Here I wait with the trembling stars To see thee once more take thy throne. </div> <div class="stanza"> There the patient palm tree watching Waits to say, "Good morn" to thee, And a throb of expectation Pulses through the earth and me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Now, o'er nature falls a hush, Look! the East is all a-blush; And a growing crimson crest Dims the late stars in the west; Now, a flood of golden light Sweeps across the silver night, Swift the pale moon fades away Before the light-girt King of Day, See! the miracle is done! Once more behold! The Sun! </div> </div> [31] <h3>II</h3> <h3>Los Cigarillos</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> This is the land of the dark-eyed gente, Of the dolce far niente, Where we dream away Both the night and day, At night-time in sleep our dreams we invoke, Our dreams come by day through the redolent smoke, As it lazily curls, And slowly unfurls From our lips, And the tips Of our fragrant cigarillos. For life in the tropics is only a joke, So we pass it in dreams, and we pass it in smoke, Smoke—smoke—smoke. </div> <div class="stanza"> Tropical constitutions Call for occasional revolutions; But after that's through, Why there's nothing to do But smoke—smoke; </div> <div class="stanza"> For life in the tropics is only a joke, So we pass it in dreams, and we pass it in smoke, Smoke—smoke—smoke. </div> </div> [32] <h3>III</h3> <h3>Teestay</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Of tropic sensations, the worst Is, sin duda, the tropical thirst. </div> <div class="stanza"> When it starts in your throat and constantly grows, Till you feel that it reaches down to your toes, When your mouth tastes like fur And your tongue turns to dust, There's but one thing to do, And do it you must, Drink teestay. </div> <div class="stanza"> Teestay, a drink with a history, A delicious, delectable mystery, "Cinco centavos el vaso, señor," If you take one, you will surely want more. </div> <div class="stanza"> Teestay, teestay, The national drink on a feast day; How it coolingly tickles, As downward it trickles, Teestay, teestay. </div> <div class="stanza"> And you wish, as you take it down at a quaff, That your neck was constructed à la giraffe. Teestay, teestay. </div> </div> [33] <h3>IV</h3> <h3>The Lottery Girl</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> "Lottery, lottery, Take a chance at the lottery? Take a ticket, Or, better, take two; Who knows what the future May hold for you? Lottery, lottery, Take a chance at the lottery?" </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, limpid-eyed girl, I would take every chance, If only the prize Were a love-flashing glance From your fathomless eyes. </div> <div class="stanza"> "Lottery, lottery, Try your luck at the lottery? Consider the size Of the capital prize, And take tickets For the lottery. Tickets, señor? Tickets, señor? Take a chance at the lottery?" </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, crimson-lipped girl, With the magical smile, [34]I would count that the gamble Were well worth the while, Not a chance would I miss, If only the prize Were a honey-bee kiss Gathered in sips From those full-ripened lips, And a love-flashing glance From your eyes. </div> </div> <h3>V</h3> <h3>The Dancing Girl</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Do you know what it is to dance? Perhaps, you do know, in a fashion; But by dancing I mean, Not what's generally seen, But dancing of fire and passion, Of fire and delirious passion. </div> <div class="stanza"> With a dusky-haired señorita, Her dark, misty eyes near your own, And her scarlet-red mouth, Like a rose of the south, The reddest that ever was grown, So close that you catch Her quick-panting breath As across your own face it is blown, With a sigh, and a moan. [35]</div> <div class="stanza"> Ah! that is dancing, As here by the Carib it's known. </div> <div class="stanza"> Now, whirling and twirling Like furies we go; Now, soft and caressing And sinuously slow; With an undulating motion, Like waves on a breeze-kissed ocean:— And the scarlet-red mouth Is nearer your own, And the dark, misty eyes Still softer have grown. </div> <div class="stanza"> Ah! that is dancing, that is loving, As here by the Carib they're known. </div> </div> [36] <h3>VI</h3> <h3>Sunset in the Tropics</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> A silver flash from the sinking sun, Then a shot of crimson across the sky That, bursting, lets a thousand colors fly And riot among the clouds; they run, Deepening in purple, flaming in gold, Changing, and opening fold after fold, Then fading through all of the tints of the rose into gray, Till, taking quick fright at the coming night, They rush out down the west, In hurried quest Of the fleeing day. </div> <div class="stanza"> Now above where the tardiest color flares a moment yet, One point of light, now two, now three are set To form the starry stairs,— And, in her fire-fly crown, Queen Night, on velvet slippered feet, comes softly down. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [37] <h2>AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS WAR</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Around the council-board of Hell, with Satan at their head, The Three Great Scourges of humanity sat. Gaunt Famine, with hollow cheek and voice, arose and spoke,— "O, Prince, I have stalked the earth, And my victims by ten thousands I have slain, I have smitten old and young. Mouths of the helpless old moaning for bread, I have filled with dust; And I have laughed to see a crying babe tug at the shriveling breast Of its mother, dead and cold. I have heard the cries and prayers of men go up to a tearless sky, And fall back upon an earth of ashes; But, heedless, I have gone on with my work. 'Tis thus, O, Prince, that I have scourged mankind." </div> <div class="stanza"> And Satan nodded his head. </div> <div class="stanza"> Pale Pestilence, with stenchful breath, then spoke and said,— "Great Prince, my brother, Famine, attacks the poor. [38]He is most terrible against the helpless and the old. But I have made a charnel-house of the mightiest cities of men. When I strike, neither their stores of gold or of grain avail. With a breath I lay low their strongest, and wither up their fairest. I come upon them without warning, lancing invisible death. From me they flee with eyes and mouths distended; I poison the air for which they gasp, and I strike them down fleeing. 'Tis thus, great Prince, that I have scourged mankind." </div> <div class="stanza"> And Satan nodded his head. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then the red monster, War, rose up and spoke,— His blood-shot eyes glared 'round him, and his thundering voice Echoed through the murky vaults of Hell.— "O, mighty Prince, my brothers, Famine and Pestilence, Have slain their thousands and ten thousands,—true; But the greater their victories have been, The more have they wakened in Man's breast [39]The God-like attributes of sympathy, of brotherhood and love And made of him a searcher after wisdom. But I arouse in Man the demon and the brute, I plant black hatred in his heart and red revenge. From the summit of fifty thousand years of upward climb I haul him down to the level of the start, back to the wolf. I give him claws. I set his teeth into his brother's throat. I make him drunk with his brother's blood. And I laugh ho! ho! while he destroys himself. O, mighty Prince, not only do I slay, But I draw Man hellward." </div> <div class="stanza"> And Satan smiled, stretched out his hand, and said,— "O War, of all the scourges of humanity, I crown you chief." </div> <div class="stanza"> And Hell rang with the acclamation of the Fiends. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [40] <h2>A MID-DAY DREAMER</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I love to sit alone, and dream, And dream, and dream; In fancy's boat to softly glide Along some stream Where fairy palaces of gold And crystal bright Stand all along the glistening shore: A wondrous sight. </div> <div class="stanza"> My craft is built of ivory, With silver oars, The sails are spun of golden threads, And priceless stores Of precious gems adorn its prow, And 'round its mast An hundred silken cords are set To hold it fast. </div> <div class="stanza"> My galley-slaves are sprightly elves Who, as they row, And as their shining oars they swing Them to and fro, Keep time to music wafted on The scented air, Made by the mermaids as they comb Their golden hair. [41]</div> <div class="stanza"> And I the while lie idly back, And dream, and dream, And let them row me where they will Adown the stream. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>THE TEMPTRESS</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Old Devil, when you come with horns and tail, With diabolic grin and crafty leer; I say, such bogey-man devices wholly fail To waken in my heart a single fear. </div> <div class="stanza"> But when you wear a form I know so well, A form so human, yet so near divine; 'Tis then I fall beneath the magic of your spell, 'Tis then I know the vantage is not mine. </div> <div class="stanza"> Ah! when you take your horns from off your head, And soft and fragrant hair is in their place; I must admit I fear the tangled path I tread When that dear head is laid against my face. </div> <div class="stanza"> And at what time you change your baleful eyes For stars that melt into the gloom of night, All of my courage, my dear fellow, quickly flies; I know my chance is slim to win the fight. [42]</div> <div class="stanza"> And when, instead of charging down to wreck Me on a red-hot pitchfork in your hand, You throw a pair of slender arms about my neck, I dare not trust the ground on which I stand. </div> <div class="stanza"> Whene'er in place of using patent wile, Or trying to frighten me with horrid grin, You tempt me with two crimson lips curved in a smile; Old Devil, I must really own, you win. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>GHOSTS OF THE OLD YEAR</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> The snow has ceased its fluttering flight, The wind sunk to a whisper light, An ominous stillness fills the night, A pause—a hush. At last, a sound that breaks the spell, Loud, clanging mouthings of a bell, That through the silence peal and swell, And roll, and rush. </div> <div class="stanza"> What does this brazen tongue declare, That falling on the midnight air Brings to my heart a sense of care Akin to fright? 'Tis telling that the year is dead, The New Year come, the Old Year fled, Another leaf before me spread On which to write. [43]</div> <div class="stanza"> It tells the deeds that were not done, It tells of races never run, Of victories that were not won, Barriers unleaped. It tells of many a squandered day, Of slighted gems and treasured clay, Of precious stores not laid away, Of fields unreaped. </div> <div class="stanza"> And so the years go swiftly by, Each, coming, brings ambitions high, And each, departing, leaves a sigh Linked to the past. Large resolutions, little deeds; Thus, filled with aims unreached, life speeds Until the blotted record reads, "Failure!" at last. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>THE GHOST OF DEACON BROWN</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> In a backwoods town Lived Deacon Brown, And he was a miser old; He would trust no bank, So he dug, and sank In the ground a box of gold, Down deep in the ground a box of gold. [44]</div> <div class="stanza"> He hid his gold, As has been told, He remembered that he did it; But sad to say, On the very next day, He forgot just where he hid it: To find his gold he tried and tried Till he grew faint and sick, and died. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then on each dark and gloomy night A form in phosphorescent white, A genuine hair-raising sight, Would wander through the town. And as it slowly roamed around, With a spade it dug each foot of ground; So the folks about Said there was no doubt 'Twas the ghost of Deacon Brown. </div> <div class="stanza"> Around the church This Ghost would search, And whenever it would see The passers-by Take wings and fly It would laugh in ghostly glee, Hee, hee!—it would laugh in ghostly glee. </div> <div class="stanza"> And so the town Went quickly down, [45]For they said that it was haunted; And doors and gates, So the story states, Bore a notice, "Tenants wanted." </div> <div class="stanza"> And the town is now for let, But the ghost is digging yet. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>"LAZY"</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Some men enjoy the constant strife Of days with work and worry rife, But that is not my dream of life: I think such men are crazy. For me, a life with worries few, A job of nothing much to do, Just pelf enough to see me through: I fear that I am lazy. </div> <div class="stanza"> On winter mornings cold and drear, When six o'clock alarms I hear, 'Tis then I love to shift my ear, And hug my downy pillows. When in the shade it's ninety-three, No job in town looks good to me, I'd rather loaf down by the sea, And watch the foaming billows. [46]</div> <div class="stanza"> Some people think the world's a school, Where labor is the only rule; But I'll not make myself a mule, And don't you ever doubt it. I know that work may have its use, But still I feel that's no excuse For turning it into abuse; What do you think about it? </div> <div class="stanza"> Let others fume and sweat and boil, And scratch and dig for golden spoil, And live the life of work and toil, Their lives to labor giving. But what is gold when life is sped, And life is short, as has been said, And we are such a long time dead, I'll spend my life in living. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>OMAR</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Old Omar, jolly sceptic, it may be That, after all, you found the magic key To life and all its mystery, and I Must own you have almost persuaded me. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [47] <h2>DEEP IN THE QUIET WOOD</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Are you bowed down in heart? Do you but hear the clashing discords and the din of life? Then come away, come to the peaceful wood, Here bathe your soul in silence. Listen! Now, From out the palpitating solitude Do you not catch, yet faint, elusive strains? They are above, around, within you, everywhere. Silently listen! Clear, and still more clear, they come. They bubble up in rippling notes, and swell in singing tones. Now let your soul run the whole gamut of the wondrous scale Until, responsive to the tonic chord, It touches the diapason of God's grand cathedral organ, Filling earth for you with heavenly peace And holy harmonies. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>VOLUPTAS</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> To chase a never-reached mirage Across the hot, white sand, And choke and die, while gazing on Its green and watered strand. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [48] <h2>THE WORD OF AN ENGINEER</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> "She's built of steel From deck to keel, And bolted strong and tight; In scorn she'll sail The fiercest gale, And pierce the darkest night. </div> <div class="stanza"> "The builder's art Has proved each part Throughout her breadth and length; Deep in the hulk, Of her mighty bulk, Ten thousand Titans' strength." </div> <div class="stanza"> The tempest howls, The Ice Wolf prowls, The winds they shift and veer, But calm I sleep, And faith I keep In the word of an engineer. </div> <div class="stanza"> Along the trail Of the slender rail The train, like a nightmare, flies And dashes on Through the black-mouthed yawn Where the cavernous tunnel lies. [49]</div> <div class="stanza"> Over the ridge, Across the bridge, Swung twixt the sky and hell, On an iron thread Spun from the head Of the man in a draughtsman's cell. </div> <div class="stanza"> And so we ride Over land and tide, Without a thought of fear— Man never had The faith in God That he has in an engineer! </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>LIFE</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Out of the infinite sea of eternity To climb, and for an instant stand Upon an island speck of time. </div> <div class="stanza"> From the impassible peace of the darkness To wake, and blink at the garish light Through one short hour of fretfulness. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [50] <h2>SLEEP</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> O Sleep, thou kindest minister to man, Silent distiller of the balm of rest, How wonderful thy power, when naught else can, To soothe the torn and sorrow-laden breast! When bleeding hearts no comforter can find, When burdened souls droop under weight of woe, When thought is torture to the troubled mind, When grief-relieving tears refuse to flow; 'Tis then thou comest on soft-beating wings, And sweet oblivion's peace from them is shed; But ah, the old pain that the waking brings! That lives again so soon as thou art fled! </div> <div class="stanza"> Man, why should thought of death cause thee to weep; Since death be but an endless, dreamless sleep? </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [51] <h2>PRAYER AT SUNRISE</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> O mighty, powerful, dark-dispelling sun, Now thou art risen, and thy day begun. How shrink the shrouding mists before thy face, As up thou spring'st to thy diurnal race! How darkness chases darkness to the west, As shades of light on light rise radiant from thy crest! For thee, great source of strength, emblem of might, In hours of darkest gloom there is no night. Thou shinest on though clouds hide thee from sight, And through each break thou sendest down thy light. </div> <div class="stanza"> O greater Maker of this Thy great sun, Give me the strength this one day's race to run, Fill me with light, fill me with sun-like strength, Fill me with joy to rob the day its length. Light from within, light that will outward shine, Strength to make strong some weaker heart than mine, Joy to make glad each soul that feels its touch; Great Father of the sun, I ask this much. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [52] <h2>THE GIFT TO SING</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Sometimes the mist overhangs my path, And blackening clouds about me cling; But, oh, I have a magic way To turn the gloom to cheerful day— I softly sing. </div> <div class="stanza"> And if the way grows darker still, Shadowed by Sorrow's somber wing, With glad defiance in my throat, I pierce the darkness with a note, And sing, and sing. </div> <div class="stanza"> I brood not over the broken past, Nor dread whatever time may bring; No nights are dark, no days are long, While in my heart there swells a song, And I can sing. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> When morning shows her first faint flush, I think of the tender blush That crept so gently to your cheek When first my love I dared to speak; How, in your glance, a dawning ray Gave promise of love's perfect day. [53]</div> <div class="stanza"> When, in the ardent breath of noon, The roses with passion swoon; There steals upon me from the air The scent that lurked within your hair; I touch your hand, I clasp your form— Again your lips are close and warm. </div> <div class="stanza"> When comes the night with beauteous skies, I think of your tear-dimmed eyes, Their mute entreaty that I stay, Although your lips sent me away; And then falls memory's bitter blight, And dark—so dark becomes the night. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>HER EYES TWIN POOLS</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Her eyes, twin pools of mystic light, The blend of star-sheen and black night; O'er which, to sound their glamouring haze, A man might bend, and vainly gaze. </div> <div class="stanza"> Her eyes, twin pools so dark and deep, In which life's ancient mysteries sleep; Wherein, to seek the quested goal, A man might plunge, and lose his soul. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [54] <h2>THE AWAKENING</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I dreamed that I was a rose That grew beside a lonely way, Close by a path none ever chose, And there I lingered day by day. Beneath the sunshine and the show'r I grew and waited there apart, Gathering perfume hour by hour, And storing it within my heart, Yet, never knew, Just why I waited there and grew. </div> <div class="stanza"> I dreamed that you were a bee That one day gaily flew along, You came across the hedge to me, And sang a soft, love-burdened song. You brushed my petals with a kiss, I woke to gladness with a start, And yielded up to you in bliss The treasured fragrance of my heart; And then I knew That I had waited there for you. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [55] <h2>BEAUTY THAT IS NEVER OLD</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> When buffeted and beaten by life's storms, When by the bitter cares of life oppressed, I want no surer haven than your arms, I want no sweeter heaven than your breast. </div> <div class="stanza"> When over my life's way there falls the blight Of sunless days, and nights of starless skies; Enough for me, the calm and steadfast light That softly shines within your loving eyes. </div> <div class="stanza"> The world, for me, and all the world can hold Is circled by your arms; for me there lies, Within the lights and shadows of your eyes, The only beauty that is never old. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [56] <h2>VENUS IN A GARDEN</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> 'Twas at early morning, The dawn was blushing in her purple bed, When in a sweet, embowered garden She, the fairest of the goddesses, The lovely Venus, Roamed amongst the roses white and red. She sought for flowers To make a garland For her golden head. </div> <div class="stanza"> Snow-white roses, blood-red roses, In that sweet garden close, Offered incense to the goddess: Both the white and the crimson rose. </div> <div class="stanza"> White roses, red roses, blossoming: But the fair Venus knew The crimson roses had gained their hue From the hearts that for love had bled; And the goddess made a garland Gathered from the roses red. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [57] <h2>VASHTI</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I sometimes take you in my dreams to a far-off land I used to know, Back in the ages long ago; a land of palms and languid streams. </div> <div class="stanza"> A land, by night, of jeweled skies, by day, of shores that glistened bright, Within whose arms, outstretched and white, a sapphire sea lay crescent-wise. </div> <div class="stanza"> Where twilight fell like silver floss, where rose the golden moon half-hid Behind a shadowy pyramid; a land beneath the Southern Cross. </div> <div class="stanza"> And there the days dreamed in their flight, each one a poem chanted through, Which at its close was merged into the muted music of the night. </div> <div class="stanza"> And you were a princess in those days. And I—I was your serving lad. But who ever served with heart so glad, or lived so for a word of praise? [58]</div> <div class="stanza"> And if that word you chanced to speak, how all my senses swayed and reeled, Till low beside your feet I kneeled, with happiness o'erwrought and weak. </div> <div class="stanza"> If, when your golden cup I bore, you deigned to lower your eyes to mine, Eyes cold, yet fervid, like the wine, I knew not how to wish for more. </div> <div class="stanza"> I trembled at the thought to dare to gaze upon, to scrutinize The deep-sea mystery of your eyes, the sun-lit splendor of your hair. </div> <div class="stanza"> To let my timid glances rest upon you long enough to note How fair and slender was your throat, how white the promise of your breast. </div> <div class="stanza"> But though I did not dare to chance a lingering look, an open gaze Upon your beauty's blinding rays, I ventured many a stolen glance. </div> <div class="stanza"> I fancy, too, (but could not state what trick of mind the fancy caused) At times your eyes upon me paused, and marked my figure lithe and straight. [59]</div> <div class="stanza"> Once when my eyes met yours it seemed that in your cheek, despite your pride, A flush arose and swiftly died; or was it something that I dreamed? </div> <div class="stanza"> Within your radiance like the star of morning, there I stood and served, Close by, unheeded, unobserved. You were so near, and, yet, so far. </div> <div class="stanza"> Ah! just to stretch my hand and touch the musky sandals on your feet!— My breaking heart! of rapture sweet it never could have held so much. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, beauty-haunted memory! Your face so proud, your eyes so calm, Your body like a slim young palm, and sinuous as a willow tree. </div> <div class="stanza"> Caught up beneath your slender arms, and girdled 'round your supple waist, A robe of curious silk that graced, but only scarce concealed your charms. </div> <div class="stanza"> A golden band about your head, a crimson jewel at your throat Which, when the sunlight on it smote, turned to a living heart and bled. [60]</div> <div class="stanza"> But, oh, that mystic bleeding stone, that work of Nature's magic art, Which mimicked so a wounded heart, could never bleed as did my own! </div> <div class="stanza"> Now after ages long and sad, in this stern land we meet anew; No more a princess proud are you, and I—I am no serving lad. </div> <div class="stanza"> And yet, dividing us, I meet a wider gulf than that which stood Between a princess of the blood and him who served low at her feet. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>THE REWARD</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> No greater earthly boon than this I crave, That those who some day gather 'round my grave, In place of tears, may whisper of me then, "He sang a song that reached the hearts of men." </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>JINGLES & CROONS </h2> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [63] <h2>SENCE YOU WENT AWAY</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Seems lak to me de stars don't shine so bright, Seems lak to me de sun done loss his light, Seems lak to me der's nothin' goin' right, Sence you went away. </div> <div class="stanza"> Seems lak to me de sky ain't half so blue, Seems lak to me dat ev'ything wants you, Seems lak to me I don't know what to do, Sence you went away. </div> <div class="stanza"> Seems lak to me dat ev'ything is wrong, Seems lak to me de day's jes twice as long, Seems lak to me de bird's forgot his song, Sence you went away. </div> <div class="stanza"> Seems lak to me I jes can't he'p but sigh, Seems lak to me ma th'oat keeps gittin' dry, Seems lak to me a tear stays in ma eye, Sence you went away. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [64] <h2>MA LADY'S LIPS AM LIKE DE HONEY</h2> <h3>(Negro Love Song)</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Breeze a-sighin' and a-blowin', Southern summer night. Stars a-gleamin' and a-glowin', Moon jes shinin' right. Strollin', like all lovers do, Down de lane wid Lindy Lou; Honey on her lips to waste; 'Speck I'm gwine to steal a taste. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, ma lady's lips am like de honey, Ma lady's lips am like de rose; An' I'm jes like de little bee a-buzzin' 'Round de flower wha' de nectah grows. Ma lady's lips dey smile so temptin', Ma lady's teeth so white dey shine, Oh, ma lady's lips so tantalizin', Ma lady's lips so close to mine. </div> <div class="stanza"> Bird a-whistlin' and a-swayin' In de live-oak tree; Seems to me he keeps a-sayin', "Kiss dat gal fo' me." Look heah, Mister Mockin' Bird, Gwine to take you at yo' word; If I meets ma Waterloo, Gwine to blame it all on you. [65]</div> <div class="stanza"> Oh, ma lady's lips am like de honey, Ma lady's lips am like de rose; An' I'm jes like de little bee a-buzzin' 'Round de flower wha' de nectah grows. Ma lady's lips dey smile so temptin', Ma lady's teeth so white dey shine, Oh, ma lady's lips so tantalizin', Ma lady's lips so close to mine. </div> <div class="stanza"> Honey in de rose, I spose, is Put der fo' de bee; Honey on her lips, I knows, is Put der jes fo' me. Seen a sparkle in her eye, Heard her heave a little sigh; Felt her kinder squeeze ma han', 'Nuff to make me understan'. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [66] <h2>TUNK</h2> <h3>(A Lecture on Modern Education)</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Look heah, Tunk!—Now, ain't dis awful! T'ought I sont you off to school. Don't you know dat you is growin' up to be a reg'lah fool? </div> <div class="stanza"> Whah's dem books dat I's done bought you? Look heah, boy, you tell me quick, Whah's dat Webster blue-back spellah an' dat bran' new 'rifmatic? </div> <div class="stanza"> W'ile I'm t'inkin' you is lahnin' in de school, why bless ma soul! You off in de woods a-playin'. Can't you do like you is tole? </div> <div class="stanza"> Boy, I tell you, it's jes scan'lous d'way dat you is goin' on. An' you sholy go'n be sorry, jes as true as you is bo'n. </div> <div class="stanza"> Heah I'm tryin' hard to raise you as a credit to dis race, An' you tryin' heap much harder fu' to come up in disgrace. [67]</div> <div class="stanza"> Dese de days w'en men don't git up to de top by hooks an' crooks; Tell you now, dey's got to git der standin' on a pile o' books. </div> <div class="stanza"> W'en you sees a darkey goin' to de fiel' as soon as light, Followin' a mule across it f'om de mawnin' tel de night, </div> <div class="stanza"> Wukin' all his life fu' vittles, hoein' 'tween de cott'n rows, W'en he knocks off ole an' tiah'd, ownin' nut'n but his clo'es, </div> <div class="stanza"> You kin put it down to ignunce, aftah all what's done an' said, You kin bet dat dat same darkey ain't got nut'n in his head. </div> <div class="stanza"> Ain't you seed dem w'ite men set'n in der awfice? Don't you know Dey goes der 'bout nine each mawnin? Bless yo' soul, dey's out by fo'. </div> <div class="stanza"> Dey jes does a little writin'; does dat by some easy means; Gals jes set an' play piannah on dem printin' press muchines. [68]</div> <div class="stanza"> Chile, dem men knows how to figgah, how to use dat little pen, An' dey knows dat blue-back spellah f'om beginnin' to de en'. </div> <div class="stanza"> Dat's de 'fect of education; dat's de t'ing what's gwine to rule; Git dem books, you lazy rascal! Git back to yo' place in school! </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [69] <h2>NOBODY'S LOOKIN' BUT DE OWL AND DE MOON</h2> <h3>(A Negro Serenade)</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> De river is a-glistenin' in de moonlight, De owl is set'n high up in de tree; De little stars am twinklin' wid a sof' light, De night seems only jes fu' you an' me. Thoo de trees de breezes am a-sighin', Breathin' out a sort o' lover's croon, Der's nobody lookin' or a-spyin', Nobody but de owl an' de moon. </div> <div class="stanza"> Nobody's lookin' but de owl an' de moon, An' de night is balmy; fu' de month is June; Come den, Honey, won't you? Come to meet me soon, Wile nobody's lookin' but de owl an' de moon. </div> <div class="stanza"> I feel so kinder lonely all de daytime, It seems I raly don't know what to do; I jes keep sort a-longin' fu' de night-time, 'Cause den I know dat I can be wid you. An' de thought jes sets my brain a-swayin', An' my heart a-beatin' to a tune; Come, de owl won't tell w'at we's a-sayin', An' cose you know we kin trus' de moon. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [70] <h2>YOU'S SWEET TO YO' MAMMY JES DE SAME</h2> <h3>(Lullaby)</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Shet yo' eyes, ma little pickaninny, go to sleep Mammy's watchin' by you all de w'ile; Daddy is a-wukin' down in de cott'n fiel', Wukin' fu' his little honey child. An' yo' mammy's heart is jes a-brimmin' full o' lub Fu' you f'om yo' head down to yo' feet; Oh, no mattah w'at some othah folks may t'ink o' you, To yo' mammy's heart you's mighty sweet. </div> <div class="stanza"> You's sweet to yo' mammy jes de same; Dat's why she calls you Honey fu' yo' name. Yo' face is black, dat's true, An' yo' hair is woolly, too, But, you's sweet to yo' mammy jes de same. </div> <div class="stanza"> Up der in de big house w'ere dey lib so rich an' gran' Dey's got chillen dat dey lubs, I s'pose; Chillen dat is purty, oh, but dey can't lub dem mo' Dan yo' mammy lubs you, heaben knows! [71]</div> <div class="stanza"> Dey may t'ink you's homely, an' yo' clo'es dey may be po', But yo' shinin' eyes, dey hol's a light Dat, my Honey, w'en you opens dem so big an' roun', Makes you lubly in yo' mammy's sight. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>A PLANTATION BACCHANAL</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> W'en ole Mister Sun gits tiah'd a-hangin' High up in de sky; W'en der ain't no thunder and light'nin' a-bangin', An' de crap's done all laid by; W'en yo' bones ain't achin' wid de rheumatics, Den yo' ride de mule to town, Git a great big jug o' de ole corn juice, An' w'en you drink her down— </div> <div class="stanza"> Jes lay away ole Trouble, An' dry up all yo' tears; Yo' pleasure sho' to double An' you bound to lose yo' keers. Jes lay away ole Sorrer High upon de shelf; And never mind to-morrer, 'Twill take care of itself. [72]</div> <div class="stanza"> W'en ole Mister Age begins a-stealin' Thoo yo' back an' knees, W'en yo' bones an' jints lose der limber feelin', An' am stiff'nin' by degrees; Now der's jes one way to feel young and spry, W'en you heah dem banjos soun' Git a great big swig o' de ole corn juice, An' w'en you drink her down— </div> <div class="stanza"> Jes lay away ole Trouble, An' dry up all yo' tears; Yo' pleasure sho' to double An' you bound to lose yo' keers. Jes lay away ole Sorrer High upon de shelf; And never mind to-morrer, 'Twill take care of itself. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [73] <h2>JULY IN GEORGY</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> I'm back down in ole Georgy w'ere de sun is shinin' hot, W'ere de cawn it is a-tasslin', gittin' ready fu' de pot; </div> <div class="stanza"> W'ere de cott'n is a-openin' an' a-w'itenin' in de sun, An' de ripenin' o' de sugah-cane is mighty nigh begun. </div> <div class="stanza"> An' de locus' is a-singin' f'om eveh bush an' tree, An' you kin heah de hummin' o' de noisy bumblebee; </div> <div class="stanza"> An' de mule he stan's a-dreamin' an' a-dreamin' in de lot, An' de sun it is a-shinin' mighty hot, hot, hot. </div> <div class="stanza"> But evehbody is a-restin', fu' de craps is all laid by, An' time fu' de camp-meetin' is a-drawin' purty nigh; </div> <div class="stanza"> An' we's put away de ploughshare, an' we's done hung up de spade, An' we's eatin' watermelon, an' a-layin' in de shade. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [74] <h2>A BANJO SONG</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> W'en de banjos wuz a-ringin', An' de darkies wuz a-singin', Oh, wuzen dem de good times sho! All de ole folks would be chattin', An' de pickaninnies pattin', As dey heah'd de feet a-shufflin' 'cross de flo'. </div> <div class="stanza"> An' how we'd dance, an' how we'd sing! Dance tel de day done break. An' how dem banjos dey would ring, An' de cabin flo' would shake! </div> <div class="stanza"> Come along, come along, Come along, come along, Don't you heah dem banjos a-ringin'? </div> <div class="stanza"> Gib a song, gib a song, Gib a song, gib a song, Git yo' feet fixed up fu' a-wingin'. </div> <div class="stanza"> W'ile de banjos dey go plunka, plunka, plunk, We'll dance tel de ole flo' shake; W'ile de feet keep a-goin' chooka, chooka, chook, We'll dance tel de day done break. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [75] <h2>ANSWER TO PRAYER</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Der ain't no use in sayin' de Lawd won't answer prah; If you knows how to ax Him, I knows He's bound to heah. </div> <div class="stanza"> De trouble is, some people don't ax de proper way, Den w'en dey git's no answer dey doubts de use to pray. </div> <div class="stanza"> You got to use egzac'ly de 'spressions an' de words To show dat 'tween yo' faith an' works, you 'pends on works two-thirds. </div> <div class="stanza"> Now, one time I remember—jes how long I won't say— I thought I'd like a turkey to eat on Chris'mus day. </div> <div class="stanza"> Fu' weeks I dreamed 'bout turkeys, a-struttin' in der pride; But seed no way to get one—widout de Lawd pervide. </div> <div class="stanza"> An' so I went to prayin', I pray'd wid all my might; [76]"Lawd, sen' to me a turkey." I pray'd bofe day an' night. </div> <div class="stanza"> "Lawd, sen' to me a turkey, a big one if you please." I 'clar to heaben I pray'd so much I mos' wore out ma knees. </div> <div class="stanza"> I pray'd dat prah so often, I pray'd dat prah so long, Yet didn't git no turkey, I know'd 'twas sump'n wrong. </div> <div class="stanza"> So on de night 'fore Chris'mus w'en I got down to pray, "Lawd, sen' me to a turkey," I had de sense to say. </div> <div class="stanza"> "Lawd, sen' me to a turkey." I know dat prah was right, An' it was sholy answer'd; I got de bird dat night. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [77] <h2>DAT GAL O' MINE</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Skin as black an' jes as sof' as a velvet dress, Teeth as white as ivory—well dey is I guess. </div> <div class="stanza"> Eyes dat's jes as big an' bright as de evenin' star; An' dat hol' some sort o' light lublier by far. </div> <div class="stanza"> Hair don't hang 'way down her back; plaited up in rows; Wid de two en's dat's behin' tied wid ribben bows. </div> <div class="stanza"> Han's dat raly wuz'n made fu' hard work, I'm sho'; Got a little bit o' foot; weahs a numbah fo'. </div> <div class="stanza"> You jes oughtah see dat gal Sunday's w'en she goes To de Baptis' meetin' house, dressed in her bes' clo'es. </div> <div class="stanza"> W'en she puts her w'ite dress on an' othah things so fine; Now, Su', don't you know I'm proud o' dat gal o' mine. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [78] <h2>THE SEASONS</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> W'en de leaves begin to fall, An' de fros' is on de ground, An' de 'simmons is a-ripenin' on de tree; W'en I heah de dinner call, An' de chillen gadder 'round, 'Tis den de 'possum is de meat fu' me. </div> <div class="stanza"> W'en de wintertime am pas' An' de spring is come at las', W'en de good ole summer sun begins to shine; Oh! my thoughts den tek a turn, An' my heart begins to yearn Fo' dat watermelon growin' on de vine. </div> <div class="stanza"> Now, de yeah will sholy bring 'Round a season fu' us all, Ev'y one kin pick his season f'om de res'; But de melon in de spring, An' de 'possum in de fall, Mek it hard to tell which time o' year am bes'. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [79] <h2>'POSSUM SONG</h2> <h3>(A Warning)</h3> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> 'Simmons ripenin' in de fall, You better run, Brudder 'Possum, run! Mockin' bird commence to call, You better run, Brudder 'Possum, git out de way! You better run, Brudder 'Possum, git out de way! Run some whar an' hide! Ole moon am sinkin' Down behin' de tree. Ole Eph am thinkin' An' chuckelin' wid glee. Ole Tige am blinkin' An' frisky as kin be, Yo' chances, Brudder 'Possum, Look mighty slim to me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Run, run, run, I tell you, Run, Brudder 'Possum, run! Run, run, run, I tell you, Ole Eph's got a gun. Pickaninnies grinnin' Waitin' fu' to see de fun. [80]You better run, Brudder 'Possum, git out de way! Run, Brudder 'Possum, run! </div> <div class="stanza"> Brudder 'Possum take a tip; You better run, Brudder 'Possum, run! 'Tain't no use in actin' flip, You better run, Brudder 'Possum, git out de way! You better run, Brudder 'Possum, git out de way! Run some whar an' hide. Dey's gwine to houn' you All along de line, W'en dey done foun' you, Den what's de use in sighin'? Wid taters roun' you. You sholy would tase fine— So listen, Brudder 'Possum, You better be a-flyin'. </div> <div class="stanza"> Run, run, run, I tell you, Run, Brudder 'Possum, run! Run, run, run, I tell you, Ole Eph's got a gun. Pickaninnies grinnin' Waitin' fu' to see de fun. You better run, Brudder 'Possum, git out de way! Run, Brudder 'Possum, run! </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [81] <h2>BRER RABBIT, YOU'S DE CUTES' OF 'EM ALL</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Once der was a meetin' in de wilderness, All de critters of creation dey was dar; Brer Rabbit, Brer 'Possum, Brer Wolf, Brer Fox, King Lion, Mister Terrapin, Mister B'ar. De question fu' discussion was, "Who is de bigges' man?" Dey 'pinted ole Jedge Owl to decide; He polished up his spectacles an' put 'em on his nose, An' to the question slowly he replied: </div> <div class="stanza"> "Brer Wolf am mighty cunnin', Brer Fox am mighty sly, Brer Terrapin an' 'Possum—kinder small; Brer Lion's mighty vicious, Brer B'ar he's sorter 'spicious, Brer Rabbit, you's de cutes' of 'em all." </div> <div class="stanza"> Dis caused a great confusion 'mongst de animals, Ev'y critter claimed dat he had won de prize; Dey 'sputed an' dey arg'ed, dey growled an' dey roared, Den putty soon de dus' begin to rise. [82]</div> <div class="stanza"> Brer Rabbit he jes' stood aside an' urged 'em on to fight. Brer Lion he mos' tore Brer B'ar in two; W'en dey was all so tiahd dat dey couldn't catch der bref Brer Rabbit he jes' grabbed de prize an' flew. </div> <div class="stanza"> Brer Wolf am mighty cunnin', Brer Fox am mighty sly, Brer Terrapin an' Possum—kinder small; Brer Lion's mighty vicious, Brer B'ar he's sorter 'spicious, Brer Rabbit, you's de cutes' of 'em all. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <h2>AN EXPLANATION</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Look heah! 'Splain to me de reason Why you said to Squire Lee, Der wuz twelve ole chicken thieves In dis heah town, includin' me. Ef he tole you dat, my brudder, He said sump'n dat warn't true; W'at I said wuz dis, dat der wuz Twelve, widout includin' you. </div> <div class="stanza"> Oh!...!— </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [83] <h2>DE LITTLE PICKANINNY'S GONE TO SLEEP</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Cuddle down, ma honey, in yo' bed, Go to sleep an' res' yo' little head, Been a-kind o' ailin' all de day? Didn't have no sperit fu' to play? Never min'; to-morrer, w'en you wek, Daddy's gwine to ride you on his bek, 'Roun' an' roun' de cabin flo' so fas'— Der! He's closed his little eyes at las'. </div> <div class="stanza"> De little pickaninny's gone to sleep, Cuddled in his trundle bed so tiny, De little pickaninny's gone to sleep, Closed his little eyes so bright an' shiny. Hush! an' w'en you walk across de flo' Step across it very sof' an' slow. De shadders all aroun' begin to creep, De little pickaninny's gone to sleep. </div> <div class="stanza"> Mandy, w'at's de matter wid dat chile? Keeps a-sighin' ev'y little w'ile; Seems to me I heayhd him sorter groan, Lord! his little han's am col' as stone! W'at's dat far-off light dat's in his eyes? Dat's a light dey's borrow'd f'om de skies; Fol' his little han's across his breas', Let de little pickaninny res'. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [84] <h2>THE RIVALS</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Look heah! Is I evah tole you 'bout de curious way I won Anna Liza? Say, I nevah? Well heah's how de thing wuz done. </div> <div class="stanza"> Lize, you know, wuz mighty purty—dat's been forty yeahs ago— 'N 'cos to look at her dis minit, you might'n spose dat it wuz so. </div> <div class="stanza"> She wuz jes de greates' 'traction in de county, 'n bless de lam'! Eveh darkey wuz a-co'tin, but it lay 'twix me an' Sam. </div> <div class="stanza"> You know Sam. We both wuz wukin' on de ole John Tompkin's place. 'N evehbody wuz a-watchin' t'see who's gwine to win de race. </div> <div class="stanza"> Hee! hee! hee! Now you mus' raley 'scuse me fu' dis snickering, But I jes can't he'p f'om laffin' eveh time I tells dis thing. [85]</div> <div class="stanza"> Ez I wuz a-sayin', me an' Sam wuked daily side by side, He a-studyin', me a-studyin', how to win Lize fu' a bride. </div> <div class="stanza"> Well, de race was kinder equal, Lize wuz sorter on de fence; Sam he had de mostes dollars, an' I had de mostes sense. </div> <div class="stanza"> Things dey run along 'bout eben tel der come Big Meetin' day; Sam den thought, to win Miss Liza, he had foun' de shoest way. </div> <div class="stanza"> An' you talk about big meetin's! None been like it 'fore nor sence; Der wuz sich a crowd o' people dat we had to put up tents. </div> <div class="stanza"> Der wuz preachers f'om de Eas', an' 'der wuz preachers f'om de Wes'; Folks had kilt mos' eveh chicken, an' wuz fattenin' up de res'. </div> <div class="stanza"> Gals had all got new w'ite dresses, an' bought ribbens fu' der hair, Fixin' fu' de openin' Sunday, prayin' dat de day'd be fair. [86]</div> <div class="stanza"> Dat de Reveren' Jasper Jones of Mount Moriah, it wuz 'low'd, Wuz to preach de openin' sermon; so you know der wuz a crowd. </div> <div class="stanza"> Fu' dat man wuz sho a preacher; had a voice jes like a bull; So der ain't no use in sayin' dat de meetin' house wuz full. </div> <div class="stanza"> Folks wuz der f'om Big Pine Hollow, some come 'way f'om Muddy Creek, Some come jes to stay fu' Sunday, but de crowd stay'd thoo de week. </div> <div class="stanza"> Some come ridin' in top-buggies wid de w'eels all painted red, Pulled by mules dat run like rabbits, each one tryin' to git ahead. </div> <div class="stanza"> Othah po'rer folks come drivin' mules dat leaned up 'ginst de shaf', Hitched to broke-down, creaky wagons dat looked like dey'd drap in half. </div> <div class="stanza"> But de bigges' crowd come walkin', wid der new shoes on der backs; 'Scuse wuz dat dey couldn't weah em 'cause de heels wuz full o' tacks. [87]</div> <div class="stanza"> Fact is, it's a job for Job, a-trudgin' in de sun an' heat, Down a long an' dusty clay road wid yo' shoes packed full o' feet. </div> <div class="stanza"> 'Cose dey stopt an' put dem shoes on w'en dey got mos' to de do'; Den dey had to grin an' bear it; dat tuk good religion sho. </div> <div class="stanza"> But I mos' forgot ma story,—well at las' dat Sunday came And it seemed dat evehbody, blin' an' deef, an' halt an' lame, </div> <div class="stanza"> Wuz out in de grove a-waitin' fu' de meetin' to begin; Ef dat crowd had got converted 'twould a been de end o' sin. </div> <div class="stanza"> Lize wuz der in all her glory, purty ez a big sunflowah, I kin 'member how she looked jes same ez 'twuz dis ve'y houah. </div> <div class="stanza"> But to make ma story shorter, w'ile we wuz a-waitin' der, Down de road we spied a cloud o' dus' dat filled up all de air. [88]</div> <div class="stanza"> An' ez we kep' on a-lookin', out f'om 'mongst dat ve'y cloud, Sam, on Marse John's big mule, Cæsar, rode right slam up in de crowd. </div> <div class="stanza"> You jes oughtah seed dat darkey, 'clar I like tah loss ma bref; Fu' to use a common 'spression, he wuz 'bout nigh dressed to def. </div> <div class="stanza"> He had slipped to town dat Sat'day, didn't let nobody know, An' had car'yd all his cash an' lef it in de dry goods sto'. </div> <div class="stanza"> He had on a bran' new suit o' sto'-bought clo'es, a high plug hat; He looked 'zactly like a gen'man, tain't no use d'nyin' dat. </div> <div class="stanza"> W'en he got down off dat mule an' bowed to Liza I could see How she looked at him so 'dmirin', an' jes kinder glanced at me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Den I know'd to win dat gal, I sho would need some othah means 'Sides a-hangin' 'round big meetin' in a suit o' homespun jeans. [89]</div> <div class="stanza"> W'en dey blow'd de ho'n fu' preachin', an' de crowd all went inside, I jes felt ez doh I'd like tah go off in de woods an' hide. </div> <div class="stanza"> So I stay'd outside de meetin', set'n underneat' de trees, Seemed to me I sot der ages, wid ma elbows on ma knees. </div> <div class="stanza"> W'en dey sung dat hymn, "Nobody knows de trouble dat I see," Seem'd to me dat dey wuz singin' eveh word o' it fu' me. </div> <div class="stanza"> Jes how long I might ha' sot der, actin' like a cussed fool, I don't know, but it jes happen'd dat I look'd an' saw Sam's mule. </div> <div class="stanza"> An' de thought come slowly tricklin' thoo ma brain right der an' den, Dat, perhaps, wid some persuasion, I could make dat mule ma fren'. </div> <div class="stanza"> An' I jes kep' on a-thinkin', an' I kep' a-lookin' 'roun', Tel I spied two great big san' spurs right close by me on de groun'. [90]</div> <div class="stanza"> Well, I took dem spurs an' put em underneat' o' Cæsar's saddle, So dey'd press down in his backbone soon ez Sam had got a-straddle. </div> <div class="stanza"> 'Twuz a pretty ticklish job, an' jes ez soon ez it wuz done, I went back w'ere I wuz set'n fu' to wait an' see de fun. </div> <div class="stanza"> Purty soon heah come de people, jes a-swa'min' out de do', Talkin' 'bout de "pow'ful sermon"—"nevah heah'd de likes befo'." </div> <div class="stanza"> How de "monahs fell convicted" jes de same ez lumps o' lead, How dat some wuz still a-layin' same es if dey'd been struck dead. </div> <div class="stanza"> An' to rectly heah come Liza, Sam a-strollin' by her side, An' it seem'd to me dat darky's smile wuz 'bout twelve inches wide. </div> <div class="stanza"> Look to me like he had swelled up to 'bout twice his natchul size, An' I heah'd him say, "I'd like to be yo' 'scort to-night, Miss Lize." [91]</div> <div class="stanza"> Den he made a bow jes like he's gwine to make a speech in school, An' walk'd jes ez proud ez Marse John over to untie his mule, </div> <div class="stanza"> W'en Sam's foot fust touched de stirrup he know'd der wuz sump'n wrong; 'Cuz de mule begin to tremble an' to sorter side along. </div> <div class="stanza"> Wen Sam raised his weight to mount him, Cæsar bristled up his ear, W'en Sam sot down in de saddle, den dat mule cummenced to rear. </div> <div class="stanza"> An' he reared an' pitched an' caper'd, only ez a mule kin pitch, Tel he flung Sam clean f'om off him, landed him squar' in a ditch. </div> <div class="stanza"> Wen dat darky riz, well raly, I felt kinder bad fu' him; He had bust dem cheap sto' britches f'om de center to de rim. </div> <div class="stanza"> All de plug hat dat wuz lef' him wuz de brim aroun' his neck, Smear'd wid mud f'om top to bottom, well, he wuz a sight, I 'speck. [92]</div> <div class="stanza"> Wuz de folks a-laffin'? Well, su', I jes sholy thought dey'd bus'; Wuz Sam laffin'? 'Twuz de fus' time dat I evah heah'd him cuss. </div> <div class="stanza"> W'ile Sam slink'd off thoo de backwoods I walk'd slowly home wid Lize, W'en I axed her jes one question der wuz sump'n in her eyes </div> <div class="stanza"> Made me know der wuz no need o' any answer bein' said, An' I felt jes like de whole world wuz a-spinnin' 'roun' ma head. </div> <div class="stanza"> So I said, "Lize, w'en we marry, mus' I weah some sto'-bought clo'es?" She says, "Jeans is good enough fu' any po' folks, heaben knows!" </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [93] <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> If homely virtues draw from me a tune In happy jingle or a half-sad croon; Or if the smoldering future should inspire My hand to strike the seer's prophetic lyre; Or if injustice, brutishness and wrong Should make a blasting trumpet of my song; O God, give beauty and strength—truth to my words, Oh, may they fall like sweetly cadenced chords, Or burn like beacon fires from out the dark, Or speed like arrows, swift and sure, to the mark. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

1 of 2

2 of 2

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.