Page:Claude McKay Constab Ballads.djvu/28

24

I sat do’n still; de evenin’ light

Passed on, an’ it fell night, dark night.

’Twas autumn: feelin’ rather chill,

I rose, led by my aimless will,

An’ went up to the second floor,

Sat on a bench agains’ de door.

A comrade came an’ sat by me,

Restin’ a hand upon my knee;

De lantern old was burnin’ dim,

But bright ’nough for me to see him:—

One searchin’ look into his face,

I gave him in my heart a place.

I never knew a nicer mind,

He was so pleasant an’ so kind;

An’ oh! the sweetness of his voice

That made my lonely heart rejoice.

It all comes back so vividly,—

The comfort that he brought to me;

The ray of hope, the pure pure joy

He gave a poor forsaken boy;

In walk or talk his tender care,

His deep concern for my welfare.

His comin’ filled the larger part

Of de great void made in my heart

When on dat cruel awful day

My faithful Bennie went away.

’Tis not de way o’ dis ya wul’

Dat any miserable soul

Should know a little lastin’ peace,

Should taste endurin’ happiness.