Page:Claude McKay Constab Ballads.djvu/25

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An’ an overwhelmin’ sadness

Came do’n on de partin’ night.

In de dim light I lay thinkin’

How dat sad night was our last,

My lone spirit weakly sinkin’

’Neat’ de mem’ries o’ de past:

As I thought in deepest sorrow,

He came,—sat do’n by my side,

Speakin’ o’ de dreaded morrow

An’ de flow o’ life’s dark tide.

Gently fell the moonbeams, kissin’

’Way de hot tears streamin’ free,

While de wind outside went hissin’

An’ a-moanin’ for poor me:

Then he rose, but after bended,

Biddin’ me a last good-bye;

To his cot his steps he wended,

An’ I heard a deep-drawn sigh.

’Twas de same decisive warnin’

Wakin’ us as in de past,

An’ we both washed soon a marnin’

’Neat’ de ole pipe fe de last;

We be’n filled wid hollow laughter,

Rather tryin’ to take heart,

But de grief returned when after

Came de moment fe depart.

Hands gripped tight, but not a tear fell

As I looked into his face,