Page:Claude McKay Constab Ballads.djvu/34



you’ tender han’, mumma,

Dat would fingle up me jaw

When de fever burned so deep,

An’ A couldn’ get no sleep?

Where’s de voice me love’ to hear

Whisp’rin’ sweetest words o’ cheer?—

Voice dat taught me A B C

As me leaned ’pon mumma’s knee.

Look de ’panish-needle grass

Growin’ by de gully pass!

Is dat fe me ducky hen

Cacklin’ roun’-a rabbit pen?

Hea’ de John-t’whits in-a glee

Singin’ in de mammee tree!

Listen, comin’ up de dale

Chirpin’s o’ de nightingale!

All de chune dem die away:—

Do you see de shinin’ ray

On da’ tiny buttercup?

’Tis de sun a-comin’ up.