I must not dream my time away,–I ‘m sure to rue it.The day is rather bright, I knowThe Muse will pardonMy half-defection, if I goInto the garden.It must be better working there,–I ‘m sure it’s sweeter:And something in the balmy airMay clear my metre.Ah this is noble, what a sky!What breezes blowing!The very clouds, I…
My vengeful soul will not forgetThe past, forever now forgot, you say.From that half height where I had sadly climbed,I stretched my hand,I lone in all that land,Down there, where, helpless, you were limed.Our fingers clasped, and dragging me a pace,You struggled up.It is a bitter Cup,That now for naught, you turn away your face.I…
Somep’n’s gone wrong dat ‘s a-causin’ you dread,–Don’t be afeared to tell–Whut! mastah dead?Somebody brung de news early to-day,–One of de sojers he led, do you say?Did n’t he foller whah ol’ mastah lead?How kin he live w’en his leadah is dead?Let me lay down awhile, dah by his bed;I wants to t’ink,–hit ain’t cleah…
If so be thou must crush me for thy use,Grind on, O potent God, and do thy will!
Den fu’ de long jou’ney back f’om de town,Ha’d, but de dreams mek it sweet.All de night long twell de break of de day,Dreamin’ agin in my sleep,Mandy comes drivin’ my sorrers away,Axin’ me, ‘Wha’ fu’ you weep?’All de day long twell de sun goes down,Smilin’, I ben’ to my hoe,Fu’ dough de weddah git…
Laws, I’s kissed ’em times befo’,Dese little boots!Seems de toes a-peepin’ thooDis hyeah hole an’ sayin’ ‘Boo!’Evah time dey looks at you —Dese little boots.Membah de time he put ’em on,Dese little boots;Riz an’ called fu’ ’em by dawn,Dese little boots;Den he tromped de livelong day,Laffin’ in his happy way,Evaht’ing he had to say,‘My little…
I rested in sleep that was dreamless;When softly there fell on my lipsA touch, as of lips that were pressingMine own with the message of bliss–A sudden, soft, fleeting caressing,A breath like a maiden’s first kiss.I woke-and the scoffer may doubt me–I peered in surprise through the gloom;But nothing and none were about me,And I…
The crescent moon shines dim on high;And in the lately radiant westThe gold is fading into gray.Now stills the lark his festive lay,And mourns with me the dying day.While in the south the first faint starLifts to the night its silver face,And twinkles to the moon afarAcross the heaven’s graying space,Low murmurs reach me from…
Wo’k is pretty middlin’ heavyFu’ a man to be so gay.You kin tell dey ‘s somep’n specialF’om de canter o’ de song;Somep’n sholy pleasin’ Sam’l,W’en he singin’ all day long.Hyeahd him wa’blin’ ‘way dis mo’nin’‘Fo’ ‘t was light enough to see.Seem lak music in de evenin’Allus good enough fu’ me.But dat man commenced to hollah‘Fo’…
When the window lights are shadedAnd the chimney-corner cool,Then the old man seeks his armchair,Lights his pipe and settles back;Falls a-dreaming as he draws itTill the smoke-wreaths gather black.And the tear-drops come a-tricklingDown his cheeks, a silver flow–Smoke or memories you wonder,But you never ask him,–no;For there ‘s something almost sacredTo the other family folksIn…
