Virginia dreams / Maggie Pogue Johnson [electronic text]

De Wintah Styles

Come in, Aunt Jemima, Oh no,'taint wof while, I jis been out a lookin' At de wintah styles.

To see de change in coats, En how de hats will be, To go into dem stores, La! 'tis a sight to see.

I jis stans' en looks, En den I looks en t'inks What will be de next t'ing As we near de fashion's brink.

Case way back in my time, No sich styles as dese, Ever cums befo' de folks,— We dressed den as we pleased.

We wo' our linsey frocks, En 'kerchiefs on our head, En not dese great high hats, Heavy's eny lead.

But de styles dis day Am changed so from my time, Eberyt'ing is gay, En hiferlutin fine.

De hats dey am so bery high, Wid feathers all aroun', You can't tell what dey's made of, Or eben see de crown.

En chicken feathers, too, Dyed blue, red and green, En folks wid hats a struttin' De same as eny queen.

De wimmen walkin' fru de streets, Wid diamon's in dey har, En on dey hats ol' tuckey tails, A danglin' in de air.

Dey don't know de dif'renee, Fer dey struts en primp dey lips, De same as dey was w'arin De fines' ostrich tips.

En coats like long jimswingers, Vest, too, like de men, Dese wimmen all de money Dey kin git will spen'.

When dey husban's git de money, What I say you watch it, De wimmen folks dey has it, Fo' he gits it in his pocket.

I'se lookin' fer de time to cum When dey will w'ar men's pants, Dey's settin' back a lookin', En waitin' fer de chance.

Den de Lawd will say "enuf," En take dem up on high, Whar he kin set de fashions To rule dem in de sky.