Page:Claude McKay Constab Ballads.djvu/21

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An’ his lovin’ words completely

Helped me to forget de hate.

An’ my heart would start a-pinin’

Ef, when one o’clock came roun’,

He was not beside me dinin’,

But be’n at some duty boun’:

Not a t’ing could sweet me eatin'’,

Wid my Bennie ’way from me;

Strangely would my heart be beatin’

Tell I knew dat he was free.

When at last he came to table,

Neider one could ever bate

Tell in some way we were able

To eke out each udder plate

All me t’oughts were of my frennie

Then an’ in de after days

Ne’er can I forget my Bennie

Wid him nice an’ pleasant ways.

In de evenin’ we went walkin’,

An’ de sweet sound of his voice,

As we laughed or kept a-talkin’,

Made my lovin’ heart rejoice:

Full of happiness we strolled on,

In de closin’ evenin’ light,

Where de stately Cobre rolled on

Gurglin’, murm’rin’ in de night;

Where de rushin’ cánal waters

Splashed t’rough fields of manchinic,