CHRIS'Mltf 
 
 ISACOMIN' 
 
 &OTHERPOEM5 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN' 
 AND OTHER POEMS 
 
CHRIS'MUS' 
 
 ISACOMIN' 
 
 &OTHERPOEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 'Ihcld.Mead 
 
 & Company 
 
 Newiork 
 
Copyright, 1896, 1899, 1903, 1905, by 
 Dono, MEAD & COMPANY 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN' 
 AND OTHER POEMS 
 
 625 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN' 
 
 >ONES a-gittin 1 achy, 
 Back a-feelin' col', 
 H a n's a-g r o w i n* 
 
 shaky, 
 
 Jes' lak I was ol . 
 Pros' erpon de meddah 
 Lookin' mighty white ; 
 Snowdraps lak a feddah 
 Slippin' down at night. 
 Jes' keep t'ings a-hummin' 
 Spite o' fros' an* showahs, 
 Chrismus is a-comin 1 
 An' all de week is ouahs. 
 
 Little mas' a-axin\ 
 " Who is Santy Glaus?" 
 Meks it kin' o' taxin' 
 Not to brek de laws. 
 Chillun's pow'ful tryin' 
 To a pusson's grace 
 Wen dey go a pryin' 
 Right on th'oo you' face 
 Down ermong yo' feelings ; 
 Jes' 'pears lak dat you 
 
CHRISMUS IS A 
 
 Got to change you' dealings 
 So 's to tell 'em true. 
 
 An' my pickaninny 
 Dreamin' in his sleep ! 
 Come hyeah, Mammy Jinny, 
 Come an' tek a peep. 
 OF Mas' Bob an' Missis 
 In de house up daih 
 Got no chile lak dis is, 
 D' ain't none anywhaih. 
 Sleep, my little lammy, 
 Sleep, you little limb, 
 He do' know whut mammy 
 Done saved up fu' him. 
 
 Dey'll be banjo pickin', 
 Dancin' all night thoo. 
 Dey'll be lots o' chicken, 
 Plenty tukky, too. 
 Drams to wet yo' whistles 
 So's to drive out chills. 
 Whut I keer fu' drizzles 
 Fallin' on de hills ? 
 Jes' keep t'ings a-hummin' 
 Spite o' col' an' showahs, 
 Chrismus day's a-cormV, 
 An' all de week is ouahs. 
 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 LULLABY 
 
 BEDTIME'S come fiT little boys. 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 Too tiahed out to make a noise, 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 You gwine t' have to-morrer 
 
 sho'? 
 
 Yes, you tole me dat befo', 
 Don't you fool me, chile, no mo', 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 
 You been bad de livelong day, 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 Th'owin' stones an' runnin* 
 
 'way, 
 
 Po 1 little lamb. 
 My, but you's a-runnin' wiF, 
 Look jes' lak some po' folks 
 
 chile ; 
 Mam' gwine whup you atter 
 
 while, 
 Po' little lamb. 
 
 Come hyeah ! you mos' tiahed 
 to def, 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 Played yo'se'f clean out o' bref, 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 See dem ban's now sich a 
 
 sight 1 
 Would you evah b'lieve dey's 
 
 white ? 
 
 Stan' still twell I wash 'em right, 
 Po' little lamb. 
 
 Jes' cain't hoi 1 yo' haid up 
 straight, 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 Hadn't oughter played so late, 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 Mammy do' know whut she'd 
 
 do, 
 
 Ef de chillun's all lak you ; 
 You's a caution now fu' true, 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 
 Lay yo' haid down in my lap, 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 
 Y' ought to have a right good 
 slap, 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 
 You been runnin' roun' a heap. 
 Shet dem eyes an' don't you 
 
 peep, 
 Dah now, dah now, go to sleep, 
 
 Po' little lamb. 
 
 10 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 AT CANDLE-LIGHTIN' 
 TIME 
 
 WHEN I come in fom de co'n- 
 
 fiel' aftah wo'kin' ha'd all day, 
 It's amazin' nice to fin' my suppah 
 
 all erpon de way ; 
 An' it's nice to smell de coffee 
 
 bubblin' ovah in de pot, 
 An' it's fine to see de meat 
 
 a-sizzlin 1 teasin'-lak an' hot. 
 
 But when suppah-time is ovah, 
 
 an' de t'ings is cleahed away ; 
 Den de happy hours dat foller 
 
 are de sweetes' of de day. 
 When my co'ncob pipe is sta'ted, 
 
 an' de smoke is drawin' prime, 
 My ole 'ooman says, " I reckon, 
 
 Ike, it's candle-lightin 1 time." 
 
 Den de chillun snuggle up to me, 
 
 an' all commence to call, 
 "Oh, say, daddy, now it's time 
 
 to mek de shadders on de 
 
 wall." 
 So I puts my han's togethah 
 
 evan daddy knows de way, 
 
 ii 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 n' de chillun snuggle closer 
 roun 1 ez I begin to say : 
 
 " Fus' thing, hyeah come Mistah 
 
 Rabbit ; don 1 you see him 
 
 wo'k his eahs 
 Huh, uh 1 dis mus' be a donkey, 
 
 look, how innercent he 
 
 'pears 1 
 Dah's de ole black swan a- 
 
 swimmin' ain't she got a' 
 
 awful neck ? 
 Who's dis feller dat's a-comin' ? 
 
 Why, dat's ole dog Tray. I 
 
 'spec' 1 " 
 
 Dat's deway I run on, tryin' fu* 
 
 to please 'em all I can ; 
 Den I hollahs, " Now be keer- 
 
 ful dis hyeah las' 's de buga- 
 
 man I " 
 An' dey runs an' hides dey faces ; 
 
 dey ain't skeered dey's lettin' 
 
 on : 
 But de play ain't raaly ovah 
 
 twell da* bugaman is gone. 
 
 12 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 So I jes' teks up my banjo, an* 
 
 I plays a little chune, 
 An' you see dem haids come 
 
 peepin' out to listen mighty 
 
 soon. 
 Den my wife says, " Sich a 
 
 pappy fu' to give you sich a 
 
 fright 1 
 Jes' you go to baid, an' leave 
 
 him : say yo' prayers an' say 
 
 good-night." 
 
 THE DESERTED PLANTA- 
 TION 
 
 OH, de grubbin'-hoe's a-rustin* 
 
 in de co'nah, 
 An' de plow's a-tumblin' down 
 
 in de fiel', 
 While de whippo'will's a-wailin' 
 
 lak a mou'nah 
 
 When his stubbo'n hea't is 
 tryin' ha'd to yiel'. 
 
 In de furrers whah de co'n was 
 allus waving 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Now de weeds is growin' 
 
 green an' rank an 1 tall ; 
 An' de swallers roun' de whole 
 
 place is a-bravin' 
 Lak dey thought deir folks had 
 allus owned it all. 
 
 An 1 de big house Stan's all quiet 
 
 lak an 1 solemn, 
 Not a blessed soul in pa'lor, 
 
 po'ch, er lawn ; 
 Not a guest, ner not aca'iage 
 
 lef to haul 'em 
 Fu' de ones dat tu'ned de 
 latch-string out air gone. 
 
 An' de banjo's voice is silent in 
 
 de qua'ters, 
 D' ain't a hymn nerco'n-song 
 
 ringin' in de air ; 
 But de murmur of a branch's 
 
 passin' waters 
 
 Is de only soun' dat breks de 
 stillness dere. 
 
 Whah's de da'kies, dem dat used 
 to be a-dancin' 
 
 14 
 
CHR1SMUS IS A-COM1N 
 
 EvVy night befo* de ole cabin 
 
 ^ do' ? 
 Whah's de chillun, demdatused 
 
 to be a-prancin' 
 Er a-rollin' in de san' er on de 
 flo'> 
 
 Whah's ole Uncle Mordecai an* 
 
 Uncle Aaron? 
 Whah's Aunt Doshy,Sam,an* 
 
 Kit, an' all de res 1 ? 
 Whah's ole Tom deda'kyfiddlah, 
 
 how's he farin' ? 
 Whah's de gals dat used to 
 sing an' dance de bes' ? 
 
 Gone ! not one o' dem is lef to 
 
 tell de story ; 
 Dey have lef de deah ole place 
 
 to fall away. 
 Couldn't one o' dem dat seed 
 
 it in its glory 
 
 Stay to watch it in de hour of 
 decay ? 
 
 Dey have lef de ole plantation 
 to de swallers, 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 But it hoi's in me a lover till 
 
 de las' ; 
 Fu' I fin' hyeah in de memory 
 
 dat follers 
 All dat loved me an' dat I 
 
 loved in de pas'. 
 
 So I'll stay an' watch de deah ole 
 
 place an' tend it 
 Ez I used to in de happy days 
 
 gone by. 
 Twell de othah Mastah thinks 
 
 it's time to end it, 
 An' calls me to my qua'ters in 
 de sky. 
 
 A BANJO SONG 
 
 OH, dere's lots 
 
 trouble 
 In dis world to swaller 
 
 down ; 
 An 1 oF Sorrer's purty lively 
 
 In her way o' gittin' roun\ 
 Yet dere's times when I furgit 
 'em, 
 
 16 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Aches an' pains an' troubles 
 
 ^ all, 
 
 An' it's when I tek at ebenin* 
 My ol' banjo f om de wall. 
 
 'Bout de time dat night is Tallin* 
 
 An' my daily wu'k is done, 
 An' above de shady hilltops 
 
 I kin see de settin' sun ; 
 When de quiet, restful shadders 
 
 Is beginnin' jes' to fall, 
 Den I take de little banjo 
 
 F'om its place upon de wall. 
 
 Den my fam'ly gadders roun* 
 me 
 
 In de fadin' o' de light, 
 Ez I strike de strings to try 'em 
 
 Ef dey all is tuned er-right. 
 An' it seems we're so nigh 
 heaben 
 
 We kin hyeah de angels sing 
 When de music o' dat banjo 
 
 Sets my cabin all er-ring. 
 
 An' my wife an' all de othahs, 
 
 Male an' female, small an* 
 
 big, 
 
 17 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Even up to gray-haired granny, 
 
 Seem jes' boun' to do a jig ; 
 
 'Twell I change de style o' 
 
 music, 
 Change de movement an' de 
 
 time, 
 
 An' de ringin' little banjo 
 Plays an ol' hea't-feelin' hime. 
 
 An' somehow my th'oat gits 
 
 choky, 
 
 An' a lump keeps tryin' to rise 
 Lak it wan'ed to ketch de water 
 Dat was flowin' to my eyes ; 
 An' I feel dat I could sorter 
 Knock de socks clean off o* 
 
 sin 
 
 Ez I hyeah my po' oF granny 
 Wif huh tremblin 1 voice jine 
 in. 
 
 Den we all th'ow in our voices 
 Fu' to he'p de chune out too, 
 
 Lak a big camp-meetin' choiry 
 Tryin' to sing a mou'nah th'oo. 
 
 An' our th'oahts let out de music, 
 Sweet an' solemn, loud an" 
 free, 
 
 18 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 'Twell de raftahs o' my cabin 
 Echo wif de melody. 
 
 Oh, de music o' de banjo, 
 
 Quick an' deb'lish, solemn, 
 
 slow, 
 Is de greates' joy an' solace 
 
 Dat a weary slave kin know I 
 So jes' let me hyeah it ringin', 
 
 Dough de chune be po' an' 
 
 rough, 
 It's a pleasure ; an' de pleasures 
 
 O' dis life is few enough. 
 
 Now, de blessed little angels 
 
 Up in heaben, we are told, 
 Don't do nothin' all dere life- 
 time 
 
 'Ceptin' play on ha'ps o' gold. 
 Now I think heaben d be mo' 
 homelike 
 
 Ef we'd hyeah some music fall 
 F'om a real ol'-fashioned banjo, 
 
 Like dat one upon de wall. 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 WHEN DECO'N PONE'S 
 HOT 
 
 DEY is times in life when Nature 
 
 Seems to slip a cog an' go, 
 Jes' a-rattlin 1 down creation, 
 
 Lak an ocean's overflow ; 
 When de worl' jes' stahts 
 a-spinnin' 
 
 Lak a picaninny's top, 
 An' yo' cup o' joy is brimmin' 
 
 'Twell it seems about to slop, 
 An' you feel jes' lak a racah, 
 
 Dat is trainin' fu 1 to trot 
 When yo' mammy says de 
 blessin' 
 
 An' de co'n pone's hot. 
 
 When you set down at de table, 
 
 Kin' o' weary lak an' sad, 
 An' you 'se jes' a little tiahed 
 
 An' purhaps a little mad ; 
 How yo' gloom tu'ns into glad- 
 ness, 
 How yo' joy drives out de 
 
 doubt 
 When de oven do' is open, 
 
 20 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 An' de smell comes po'in' 
 
 out ; 
 Why, de 'lectric light o' Heaven 
 
 Seems to settle on de spot, 
 When yo' mammy says de 
 
 blessin' 
 An' de co'n pone's hot. 
 
 When de cabbage pot is 
 
 steamin' 
 
 An 1 de bacon good an' fat, 
 When de chittlins is a-sputter'n' 
 So's to show you whah dey's 
 
 at; 
 Tek away yo' sody biscuit, 
 
 Tek away yo' cake an' pie, 
 Fu' de glory time is comin', 
 An' it's 'proachin' mighty 
 
 nigh, 
 
 An' you want to jump an' hollah, 
 Dough you know you'd bettah 
 
 not, 
 When yo' mammy says de 
 
 blessin', 
 An' de co'n pone's hot. 
 
 I have hyeahd o' lots o' sermons, 
 21 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COM1N 
 
 An 1 I've hyeahd o' lots o' 
 
 prayers, 
 
 An' I've listened to some singin' 
 Dat has tuck me up de stairs 
 Of de Glory-Lan' an' set me 
 Jes' below de Mahstah's 
 
 th'one, 
 An' have lef my hea't a-singin' 
 
 In a happy aftah tone ; 
 But dem wu'ds so sweetly mur- 
 mured 
 
 Seem to tech de softes' spot, 
 When my mammy says de 
 
 blessin', 
 An' de co'n pone's hot. 
 
 WHEN MALINDY SINGS 
 
 G'WAY an' quit dat noise, Miss 
 Lucy 
 
 Put dat music book away ; 
 What's de use to keep on tryin' ? 
 
 Ef you practise twell you're 
 
 You cain't sta't no notes a-flyin' 
 22 
 
Lak de ones dat rants and 
 
 rings 
 F'om de kitchen to de big 
 
 woods 
 When Malindy sings. 
 
 You ain't got de nachel o'gans 
 Fu' to make de soun' come 
 
 right, 
 You ain't got de tu'ns an' 
 
 twistin's 
 
 Fu' to make it sweet an' light. 
 Tell you one thing now, Miss 
 
 Lucy, 
 
 An' I'm tellin' you fu' true, 
 When hit comes to raal right 
 
 singin', 
 Tain't no easy thing to do. 
 
 Easy 'nough fu' folks to hollah, 
 
 Lookin' at de lines an' dots, 
 
 When dey ain't no one kin sence 
 
 it, 
 An' de chune comes in, in 
 
 spots ; 
 
 But fu' real melojous music, 
 Dat jes' strikes yo' hea't and 
 clings, 
 
 23 
 
CHRISMUS is A-COMIN' 
 
 Jes' you stan' an' listen wif me 
 When Malindy sings. 
 
 Ain't you nevah hyeahd Ma- 
 lindy ? 
 
 Blessed soul, tek up de cross I 
 Look hyeah, ain't you jokin', 
 
 honey ? 
 Well, you don't know whut 
 
 you los'. 
 Y' ought to hyeah dat gal 
 
 a-wa'blin', 
 Robins, la'ks, an 1 all dem 
 
 things, 
 Heish dey moufs an' hides dey 
 
 faces 
 When Malindy sings. 
 
 Fiddlin' man jes' stop his fid- 
 
 dlin', 
 
 Lay his fiddle on de she'f ; 
 Mockin'-bird quit tryin' to whis- 
 tle, 
 'Cause he jes' so shamed his* 
 
 se'f. 
 Folks a-playin' on de banjo 
 
 24 
 
CHR1SMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Draps dey fingahs on de 
 
 strings 
 Bless yo' soul fu'gits to move 
 
 'em, 
 When Malindy signs. 
 
 She jes' spreads huh mouf and 
 
 hollahs, 
 " Come to Jesus," twell you 
 
 hyeah 
 Sinnahs' tremblin' steps and 
 
 voices, 
 
 Timid-lak a-drawin' neah ; 
 Den she tu'ns to " Rock of 
 
 Ages," 
 
 Simply to de cross she clings, 
 An' you fin' yo' teahs a-drap- 
 
 pin' 
 When Malindy sings. 
 
 Who dat says dat humble praises 
 Wif de Master nevah counts ? 
 
 Heish yo' mouf, I hyeah dat 
 
 music, 
 Ez hit rises up an' mounts 
 
 Floatin' by de hills an' valleys, 
 Way above dis buryin' sod, 
 
 25 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Ez hit makes its way in glory 
 To de very gates of God 1 
 
 Oh, hit's sweetah dan de music 
 
 Of an edicated band ; 
 An' hit's dearah dan de battle's 
 
 Song o' triumph in de Ian'. 
 It seems holier dan evenin' 
 
 When de solemn chu'ch bell 
 
 rings, 
 Ez I sit an' ca'mly listen 
 
 While Malindy sings. 
 
 Towsah, stop dat ba'kin', hyeah 
 
 me I 
 Mandy, mek dat chile keep 
 
 still ; 
 Don't you hyeah de echoes 
 
 callin' 
 
 F'om de valley to de hill ? 
 Let me listen, I can hyeah it, 
 Th'oo de bresh of angel's 
 
 wings, 
 Sof an* sweet, *' Swing Low, 
 
 Sweet Chariot," 
 Ez Malindy sings. 
 
 26 
 
CHRISMUS is A-COMIN' 
 
 SONG OF SUMMER 
 
 Dis is gospel weathah sho' 
 
 Hills is sawt o' hazy. 
 Meddahs level ez a flo' 
 
 Callin' to de lazy. 
 Sky all white wif streaks o' blue, 
 
 Sunshine softly gleamin', 
 D 'ain't no wuk hit's right to do, 
 
 Nothin' 's right but dreamin'. 
 
 Dreamin' by de rivah side 
 
 Wif de watahs glist'nin', 
 Feelin' good an' satisfied 
 
 Ez you lay a-list r nin' 
 To the little nakid boys 
 
 Splashin' in de watah, 
 Hollerin' fu' to spress deir joys 
 
 Jes 1 lak youngsters ought to. 
 
 Squir'l a-tippin 1 on his toes, 
 So's to hide an' view you ; 
 
 Whole flocks o' camp-meetin* 
 
 crows 
 Shoutin' hallelujah. 
 
 Peckahwood erpon de tree 
 Tappin' lak a hammah ; 
 
 27 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Jaybird chattin' wif a bee. 
 Tryin' to teach him grammah. 
 
 Breeze is blowin' wif perfume 
 
 Jes' enough to tease you ; 
 Hollyhocks is all in bloom, 
 
 Smellin' fu' to please you. 
 Go 'way, folks, an 1 let me 'lone, 
 
 Times is gettin' dearah 
 Summah's settin' on de th'one, 
 
 An' I'm a-layin' neah huhJ 
 
 LI'L' GAL 
 
 OH, de weathah it is balmy an' 
 
 de breeze is sighin low. 
 
 LiT gal, 
 An' de mockin' bird is sinpfm 1 
 
 in de locus' by de do\ 
 
 LiT gal ; 
 Dere's a hummin an' a bummin' 
 
 in de Ian' fom eas' to 
 
 wes', 
 I's a-sighin' fu' you, honey, an' 
 
 I nevah know no res'. 
 
 28 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Fu' dey's lots o' trouble brewin' 
 an 1 a-stewirf in my breas', 
 LIT gal. 
 
 Whut's de mattah wid de 
 weathah, whut's de mat- 
 tah wid de breeze, 
 LiT gal ? 
 
 Whut's de mattah wid de locus* 
 dat's a-singin' in de trees, 
 LiT gal ? 
 
 Wy dey knows dey ladies love 
 'em, an' dey knows dey 
 love 'em true, 
 
 An' dey love 'em back, I reckon, 
 des' lak I's a-lovin' you ; 
 
 Dat's de reason dey's a-weavin' 
 an' a-sighin', thoo an' 
 thoo, 
 
 LiT gal. 
 
 Don't you let no da'ky fool you 
 'cause de clo'es he waihs 
 is fine, 
 
 LIT gal. 
 
 29 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Dey's a hones 1 hea't a-beatirT 
 
 unnerneaf dese rags o' 
 
 mine, 
 
 LiT gal. 
 Cose dey am' no use in mockin' 
 
 whut de birds an 1 weathah 
 
 do, 
 But I's so'y I cain't 'spress it 
 
 w'en I knows I loves 
 
 you true, 
 Dat's de reason I's a-sighin' an* 
 
 a-singin' now fu' you, 
 LiT gal. 
 
 FISHING 
 
 WEN I git up in de mo'nin' an* 
 
 de clouds is big an' 
 
 black, 
 Dey's a kin' o' wa'nin' shivah 
 
 goes a-scootin' down my 
 
 back ; 
 Den I says to my ol' ooman ez 
 
 I watches down de lane, 
 " Don't you so't o' reckon, 
 
 Lizy, dat we gwine to 
 
 have some rain ? " 
 
 3 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 " Go on, man," my Lizy an- 
 
 swah, "you cain't fool 
 
 me, not a bit, 
 I don't see no rain a-comin', ef 
 
 you's wishin' fu' it, quit ; 
 Case de mo' you t'ink erbout 
 
 it, an' de mo' you pray 
 
 an' wish, 
 W'y de rain stay 'way de longah, 
 
 spechul ef you wants to 
 
 fish." 
 
 But I see huh pat de skillet, an* 
 I see huh cas' huh eye 
 
 Wid a kin' o' anxious motion 
 to'ds de da'kness in de 
 sky; 
 
 An* I knows whut she's 
 a-t'inkin', dough she 
 tries so ha'd to hide. 
 
 She's a-sayin', "Wouldn't cat- 
 fish now tas'e monst'ous 
 bully, fried ? " 
 
 Den de clouds git black an* 
 blackah, an' de thundah 
 'mence to roll, 
 
 3 1 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 An' de rain, it 'mence a-fallin'. 
 Oh, I's happy, bless my 
 soul ! 
 
 Ez I look at dat ol' skillet, an' I 
 'magine I kin see 
 
 Jes' a slew o' new-ketched cat- 
 fish sizzlin' daih fu' huh 
 an' me. 
 
 'Tain't no use to go a-ploughin', 
 fu' de groun'll be too wet, 
 
 So I puts out fu' de big house 
 at a moughty pace, you 
 bet, 
 
 An' ol' mastah say, "Well, 
 Lishy, ef you t'ink hit's 
 gwine to rain, 
 
 Go on fishin', hit's de weathah, 
 an' I 'low we cain't com- 
 plain." 
 
 Talk erbout a dahky walkin* 
 
 wid his haid up in de 
 
 aih! 
 Have to feel mine evah minute 
 
 to be sho' I got it daih ; 
 En' de win' is cuttin' capahs an' 
 
 a-lashin' thoo de trees, 
 
 32 
 
CHRISMUS is A-COMIN' 
 
 But de rain keeps on a-singin' 
 blessed songs, lak " Tek 
 yo' ease." 
 
 Wid my pole erpon my shouldah 
 
 an' my wo'm can in my 
 
 ban', 
 I kin feel de fish a-waitin' w'en 
 
 I strikes de rivah's san' ; 
 Nevah min' you ho'ny scoun'- 
 
 els, needn' swim erroun' 
 
 an' grin, 
 I'll be grinnin' in a minute w'en 
 
 I 'mence to haul you in. 
 
 W'en de fish begin to nibble, 
 
 an' de co'k begin to 
 
 jump, 
 I's erfeahed dat dey'll quit bitin', 
 
 case dey hyeah my hea't 
 
 go " thump," 
 'Twell de co'k go way down 
 
 undah, an' I raise a awful 
 
 shout, 
 Ez a big ol' yallah belly comes 
 
 a gallivantin' out. 
 
 33 
 
CHRISMUS is A-COMIN' 
 
 Needn't wriggle, Mistah Cat- 
 fish, case I got you jes' 
 de same, 
 
 You been eatin', I'll be eatin', 
 an' we needah ain't to 
 blame. 
 
 But you needn't feel so lone- 
 some fu' I's th'owin' out 
 to see 
 
 Ef dey ain't some of yo' com- 
 rades fu' to keep you 
 company. 
 
 Spo't, dis fishin' I now you 
 
 talkin', w'y dey ain't no 
 
 kin' to beat ; 
 I don' keer ef I is soakin', laigs, 
 
 an' back, an' naik, an' 
 
 feet, 
 It's de spo't I's lookin' aftah. 
 
 Hit's de pleasure an' de 
 
 fun, 
 Dough I knows dat Lizy's 
 
 waitin' wid de skillet 
 
 w'en I's done. 
 
 34 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 TWO LITTLE BOOTS 
 
 Two little boots all rough an* 
 
 wo', 
 
 Two little boots ! 
 Laws, I've kissed 'em times 
 
 befo', 
 
 Dese little boots ! 
 Seems de toes a-peepin' thoo 
 Dis hyeah hole an' savin' 
 
 " Boo ! " 
 
 Evah time dey looks at you 
 Dese little boots. 
 
 Membah de time he put 'em on, 
 
 Dese little boots ; 
 Riz an' called fu' 'em by dawn, 
 
 Dese little boots ; 
 Den he tromped de livelong 
 
 day, 
 
 Laffin' in his happy way, 
 Evaht'ing he had to say, 
 
 "My little boots I" 
 
 Kickin' de san 1 de whole day 
 
 long, 
 Dem little boots ; 
 
 35 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Good de cobblah made 'em 
 
 strong. 
 
 Dem little boots I 
 Rocks was fiT dat baby's use, 
 Ton had to stan 1 abuse 
 Wen you tu'ned dese cham- 
 
 peens loose, 
 Dese little boots ! 
 
 Ust to make de ol' cat cry, 
 
 Dese little boots ; 
 Den you walked it mighty high, 
 
 Proud little boots 1 
 Ahms akimbo, stan'in' wide, 
 Eyesa-sayin' " Dis is pride 1 " 
 Den de manny-baby stride I 
 
 You little boots. 
 
 Somehow, you don't seem so 
 
 g a y 
 
 Po' little boots, 
 Sence yo' ownah went erway, 
 
 Po' little boots 1 
 Yo' bright tops don't look so 
 
 red, 
 
 Dese brass tips is dull an' dead ; 
 " Goo'-bye," whut de baby said ; 
 
 Deah little boots I 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Ain't you kin' o' sad yo'se'f, 
 
 You little boots ? 
 Dis is all his manny's lef , 
 
 Two little boots. 
 Sence huh baby gone an' died, 
 Heav'n itse'f hit seem to hide 
 Des a little bit inside 
 
 Two little boots. 
 
 DAT OL' MARE O' MINE 
 
 Want to trade me, do you, mis- 
 
 tah ? Oh, well, now, I 
 
 reckon not, 
 W'y, you couldn't buy my Sukey 
 
 fu' a thousan' on de spot. 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine ? 
 Yes, huh coat ah long an* 
 
 shaggy, an' she ain't no 
 
 shakes to see ; 
 Dat's a ring-bone, yes, you right, 
 
 suh, an' she got a on'ry 
 
 knee, 
 
 37 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 But dey ain't no use in talkin', 
 
 shede only boss fu' me, 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine. 
 
 Co'se, I knows dat Suke's con- 
 
 tra'y, an' she moughty 
 
 ap' to vex ; 
 But you got to mek erlowance 
 
 fu' de nature of huh sex ; 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine. 
 Ef you pull her on de lef han' ; 
 
 she plum 'termined to go 
 
 right, 
 A cannon couldn't ske-er huh, 
 
 but she boun' to tek a 
 
 fright 
 At a piece o' common paper, or 
 
 anyt'ing whut's white, 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine. 
 
 Wen my eyes commence to 
 fail me, dough, I trus'es 
 to huh sight, 
 
 An' she'll tote me safe an' hones' 
 on de ve'y da'kes' night, 
 Dat oF mare o' mine. 
 
 38 
 
CHRISMUS is A-COMIN' 
 
 Ef I whup huh, she jes' switch 
 
 huh tail, an' settle to a 
 
 walk, 
 Ef I whup huh mo', she shek 
 
 huh haid, an' lak ez not, 
 
 she balk. 
 But huh sense ain't no ways 
 
 lackin', she do evah t'ing 
 
 but talk, 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine. 
 
 But she gentle ez a lady w'en 
 
 she know huh beau kin 
 
 see, 
 An' she sholy got mo' gumption 
 
 any day den you or me, 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine. 
 She's a leetle slow a-goin', an* 
 
 she moughty ha'd to 
 
 sta't, 
 But we's gittin' ol' togathah, 
 
 an' she's closah to my 
 
 hea't, 
 An' I doesn't reckon, mistah, 
 
 dat she'd sca'cely keer 
 
 to pa't ; 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine. 
 
 39 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 W'y I knows de time dat cidah's 
 
 kin' o' muddled up my 
 
 haid, 
 Ef it hadn't been fu' Sukey 
 
 hyeah, I reckon I'd been 
 
 daid ; 
 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine. 
 But she got me in de middle o' 
 
 de road an' tuk me home, 
 An' she wouldn't let me wan- 
 
 dah, ner she wouldn't let 
 
 me roam, 
 Dat's de kin' o ? hoss to tie to 
 
 w'en you's seed de cidah's 
 
 foam, 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine. 
 
 You kin talk erbout yo' heaven, 
 
 you kin talk erbout yo' 
 
 hell, 
 Dey is people, dey is hosses, den 
 
 dey's cattle, den dey's 
 
 well 
 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine ; 
 She de beatenes' t'ing dat evah 
 
 struck de medders o' de 
 
 town, 
 
 40 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 An' aldough huh haid ain't fittin' 
 
 fu' to waih no golden 
 
 crown, 
 D' ain't a blessed wayfu' Petah 
 
 fu' to tu'n my Sukey 
 
 down, 
 Dat ol' mare o' mine. 
 
 WHEN DEY 'LISTED 
 COLORED SOLDIERS 
 
 DEY was talkin' in de cabin, 
 
 dey was talkin' in de 
 
 hall; 
 But I listened kin' o' keerless, 
 
 not a-t'inkin' 'bout it all ; 
 An' on Sunday, too, I noticed, 
 
 dey was whisp'rin' 
 
 mighty much, 
 Stan'in' all erroun' de roadside 
 
 w'en dey let us out o' 
 
 chu'ch. 
 But I didn't t'ink erbout it twell 
 
 de middle of de week, 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 An' my 'Lias come to see me, 
 
 an' somehow he couldn't 
 
 speak. 
 Den I seed all in a minute whut 
 
 he'd come to see me 
 
 for ; 
 Dey had 'listed colo'ed sojers, 
 
 an' my 'Lias gwine to 
 
 wah. 
 
 Oh, I hugged him, an' I kissed 
 him, an' I baiged him not 
 to go ; 
 
 But he tol' me dat his con- 
 science, hit was callin' 
 to him so, 
 
 An' he couldn't baih to lingah 
 w'en he had a chanst to 
 fight 
 
 For de freedom dey had gin him 
 an' de glory of de right. 
 
 So he kissed me, an' he^lef 
 me, w'en I'd p'omised 
 to be true ; 
 
 An' dey put a knapsack on him, 
 an' a coat all colo'ed 
 blue. _ 
 
 42 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 So I gin him pap's ol' Bible 
 fom de bottom of de 
 draw', 
 
 Wen dey 'listed colo'ed sojers 
 an' my ' Lias went to wah. 
 
 But I t'ought of all de weary 
 
 miles dat he would have 
 
 to tramp, 
 An' I couldn't be contented 
 
 w'en dey tuk him to de 
 
 camp. 
 W'y my hea't nigh broke wid 
 
 grievin' 'twell I seed him 
 
 on de street ; 
 Den I felt lak I could go an' 
 
 th'ow my body at his 
 
 feet. 
 For his buttons was a-shinin', 
 
 an' his face was shinin', 
 
 too, 
 An' he looked so strong an' 
 
 mighty in his coat o' sojer 
 
 blue, 
 Dat I hollahed. ''Step up, 
 
 manny," dough my th'oat 
 
 was so' an' raw 
 
 43 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COMIN 
 
 Wen dey 'listed colo'ed sojers 
 an' my 'Lias went to wah. 
 
 Ol' Mis' cried w'en mastah lef 
 h uh, young Miss 
 mou'ned huh brothah 
 Ned, 
 
 An' I didn't know dey feelin's 
 is de ve'y wo'ds dey 
 said 
 
 W'en I tol' 'em I was so'y. 
 Dey had done gin up 
 dey all ; 
 
 But dey only seemed mo' 
 proudah dat dey men had 
 hyeahd de call. 
 
 Bofe my mastahs went in gray 
 suits, an' I loved de Yan- 
 kee blue, 
 
 But I t'ought dat I could sor- 
 rer for de losin' of 'em 
 too ; 
 
 But I couldn't, for I didn't know 
 de haT o' whut I saw, 
 
 Twell dey 'listed colo'ed so- 
 jers an' my 'Lias went 
 to wah. 
 
 44 
 
CHRISMUS IS A-COM1N 
 
 Mastah Jack come home all 
 
 sickly ; he was broke for 
 
 life, dey said ; 
 An' dey lef my po' young mas- 
 
 tah some'r's on de road- 
 side, dead. 
 Wen de women cried an' 
 
 mou'ned 'em, I could 
 
 feel it thoo an' thoo, 
 For I had a loved un fightin' in 
 
 de way o' dangah, too. 
 Den dey tol' me dey had laid 
 
 him some'r's way down 
 
 souf to res', 
 Wid de flag dat he had fit for 
 
 shinin' daih acrost his 
 
 breas'. 
 Well, I cried, but den I reckon 
 
 dat's whut Gawd had 
 
 called him for. 
 Wen dey 'listed colo'ed sojers 
 
 an' my 'Lias went to wah. 
 
 45 
 
CHRISMUS is A-COMIN' 
 
 DE WAY TINGS COME 
 
 DB way t'ings come, hit seems 
 
 to me, 
 
 Is des' one monst'ous mystery ; 
 De way hit seem to strike a 
 
 man, 
 Dey ain't no sense, dey ain't no 
 
 plan; 
 
 Ef trouble sta'ts a-pilin' down, 
 It ain't no use to rage er frown, 
 It ain't no use to strive er pray, 
 Hit's mortal boun' to come dat 
 
 way. 
 
 Now, ef you's hongry, an' yo' 
 
 plate 
 Des' keep on sayin' to you, 
 
 " Wait," 
 Don't mek no diffunce how you 
 
 feel, 
 'Twon't do no good to hunt a 
 
 meal, 
 Fu* dat ah meal des' boun' to 
 
 hide 
 Ontwell de devil's satisfied, 
 
 46 
 
CHRISMUS is A-CQMIN' 
 
 An' 'twell dey's some'p'n by to 
 
 cyave 
 You's got to ease yo'se'f an' 
 
 sta've. 
 
 But ef dey's co'n meal on de 
 she'f 
 
 You needn't bothah Voun' yo'- 
 se'f, 
 
 Somebody's boun' to amble in 
 
 An' Vite you to dey co'n meal 
 bin ; 
 
 An' ef you's stuffed up to de 
 froat 
 
 Wid co'n er middlin', fowl er 
 shoat, 
 
 Des' look out an' you'll see fu' 
 sho 
 
 A 'possum faint befo' yo' do*. 
 
 De way t'ings happen, huhuh, 
 
 chile, 
 Dis worl' 's done puzzled me 
 
 one w'ile ; 
 I's mighty skeered I'll fall in 
 
 doubt, 
 I des' won't try to reason out 
 
 47 
 
CHRISMUS is A-COMIN' 
 
 De reason why folks strive an' 
 
 plan 
 
 A dinnah fu' a full-fed man, 
 An' shet de do' an' cross de 
 
 street 
 F'om one dat raaly needs to eat