Page:Claude McKay Constab Ballads.djvu/35

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Now’s full time fe me to wake,

’Causen we ha’ bread fe bake;

Git up, Sam, you lazy wretch,

For de beas’ dem fe go ketch:

Ef you ’low de sun fe grow,

Grass-lice wi’ sure mek you know;

S’arch up to de ole-groun’ side,

For de jack wi’ ’tan’ deh hide.

Mumma, me wan’ go a school,

Te-day we gwin’ play tom-fool:

Quick! Gi’e me my book an’ slate,

For I doana want fe late.

Sister, wha’ de doctor t’ink?

Say mumma a lower sink?

Lard! ef she gwin’ go lef’ we,

Wha’ de use o’ life fe me?

Sister, sister, a no true,

Mumma caan’ dis dead ’way so;

Sister, sister, leave me ’lone,

Me won’ believe dat she gone.

Ah! no fe her own han’ now

Restin’ on me fevered brow?

Mumma, lay me ’pon you’ breas’,

Mek me get a drop o’ res’.