Virginia dreams / Maggie Pogue Johnson [electronic text]

Old Maid's Soliloquy

I'se been upon de karpet,Fo' lo, dese many days;De men folks seem to sneer me,In der kin' ob way.

But I don't min' der foolin',Case I sho' is jis as fineAs any Kershaw pumpkinA hangin on de vine.

I looks at dem sometimes,But hol's my head up high,Case I is fer above demAs de moon is in de sky.

Dey sho' do t'ink dey's so much,But I sho' is jis as fineAs eny sweet potatoDat's growd up from de vine.

Dey needn't t'ink I's liken dem,Case my match am hard to fin',En I don't want de watermillionDat's lef' upon de vine.

Case I ain't no spring chicken,Dis am solid talk,En I don't want anythingDat's foun' upon de walk.

Case ef I'd wanted anything,I'd hitched up years ago,En had my sher ob trouble.But my min' tol' me no.

I'd rader be a single maid,A wanderin' bout de town,Wid skercely way to earn my bread,En face all made ob frowns,—

Den hitched up to some numbskull,Wid skercely sense to die,En I know I cud'n kill him,Dar'd be no use to try.

So don't let ol' maids boder you,I'll fin' a match some day,Or else I'll sho' 'main single,You hear me what I say!

I specs to hol' my head up highEn always feel as freeAs any orange blossomA hangin' on de tree.