Dis, dat an' tutter : poems / Elliot Blaine Henderson [electronic text]

When de Fiah am Kinklin' Hot.

TO ROBERT PAYNE and MAJOR J. C. FULTON,
Columbus, Ohio.

When de sno' it am er fallin', Winds er whizzin' down de lanes, An' de fros' it am er freezin' Fo' yo' eyes erpun de panes, Whut am beddah den er neslin' 'Roun' er fiah dat's roas'in' hot? Fo' er pickahninny dahky Hain't' er mo' enchantin' spot.

When de breezes am er moanin' An' de sun am sinkin' lo', An' de gloomy clouds an' shaddahs Geddah 'roun' erbout yo' do'; When yo' hyeah de co'n er poppin', See de cidah all er foam, In yo' soul de joy an' gladness Seems eroun' erbout to roam.

An' yo' granny am er hummin', Cat er puffin' on de rug, An' yo' git er sniff de burbun Dat am steamin' fum de jug— Umph! de berry'maggahnayshun Makes er puson think it's real. It am glory! Hesh yo' mouf, sah, Doan' yo' ax me how yo' feel.

All yo' troubles an' yo' burdens Seems to take de swif'es flight! 'Pears yo' berry soul am lif'ed To de blissful mountain heights! Whah le lan's erfl' wiff honey, Streets an' alleys paved wiff gol', An' de simphonnies o' heaben's Got er sweetnes' kaint be tol'.

Yo' kin sing de song o' Moses, Shout yo'se'f clah to de sky! Pickahninny's den in cloveah, No time den to weep an' sigh. Let de sno' keep on er fallin', Let de breezes whizz an' moan, Longs er pickahninny's nestlin' 'Roun' er hot fiah ub his own.