Page:The book of American negro poetry.djvu/84

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One does such work as one will not,
 * And well each knows the right;

Though the white storm howls, or the sun is hot,
 * The black must serve the white.

And it's, oh, for the white man's softening flesh,
 * While the black man's muscles grow!

Well I know which grows the mightier,
 * I know ; full well I know.

The white man seeks the soft, fat place,
 * And he moves and he works by rule.

Ingenious grows the humbler race
 * In Oppression's prodding school.

And it's, oh, for a white man gone to seed,
 * While the Negro struggles so!

And I know which race develops most,
 * I know; yes, well I know.

The white man rides in a palace car,
 * And the Negro rides "Jim Crow."

To damn the other with bolt and bar,
 * One creepeth so low; so low!

And it's, oh, for a master's nose in the mire.
 * While the humbled hearts o'erflow!

Well I know whose soul grows big at this,
 * And whose grows small; I know!