Negro Folk Rhymes Part 34

A RACE-STARTER'S RHYME

One fer de money!

Two fer de show!

Three to git ready, An' four fer to go!

NESTING

De jaybird build on a swingin' lim', De sparrow in de gyardin; Dat ole gray goose in de panel o' de fence, An' de gander on de t'other side o' Jordan.

BABY WANTS CHERRIES

De cherries, dey're red; de cherries, dey're ripe; An' de baby it want one.

De cherries, dey're hard; de cherries, dey're sour; An' de baby cain't git none.

Jes look at dat bird in de cherry tree!

He's pickin' 'em one by one!

He's shakin' his bill, he's gittin' it fill', An' down dat th'oat dey run!

Nev' mind! Bye an' bye dat bird's gwineter fly, An' mammy's gwineter make dat pie.

She'll give you a few, fer de baby cain't chew, An' de Pickaninny sholy won't cry.

A PRETTY PAIR OF CHICKENS

Dat box-legged rooster, an' dat bow-legged hen Make a mighty pretty couple, not to be no kin.

Dey's jes lak some n.i.g.g.e.rs wearin' white folks ole britches, Dey thinks dey's lookin' fine, w'en dey needs lots of st.i.tches.

TOO MUCH WATERMELON

Dere wus a great big watermillion growin' on de vine.

Dere wus a liddle ugly n.i.g.g.e.r watchin' all de time.

An' w'en dat great big watermillion lay ripenin' in de sun, An' de stripes along its purty skin wus comin' one by one, Dat ugly n.i.g.g.e.r pulled it off an' toted it away, An' he e't dat great big watermillion all in one single day.

He e't de rinds, an' red meat too, he finish it all trim; An' den,--dat great big watermillion up an' finish him.

b.u.t.tERFLY

Pretty liddle b.u.t.terfly, yaller as de gold, My sweet liddle b.u.t.terfly, you sho' is mighty bold.

You can dance out in de sun, you can fly up high, But you know I'se bound to git you, yet, my liddle b.u.t.terfly.

THE HATED BLACKBIRD AND CROW

Dat Blackbird say unto de Crow: "Dat's why de white folks hates us so; For ever since ole Adam wus born, It's been our rule to gedder green corn."

Dat Blackbird say unto de Crow: "If you's not black, den I don't know.

White folks calls you black, but I say not; Caze de kittle musn' talk about de pot."

IN A RUSH

Here I comes jes a-rearin' an' a-pitchin', I hain't had no kiss since I lef' de ole kitchin.

Candy, dat's sweet; dat's very, very clear; But a kiss from yo' lips would be sweeter, my dear.

TAKING A WALK

We's a-walkin' in de green gra.s.s dust, dust, dust.

We's a-walkin' in de green gra.s.s dust.

If you's jes as sweet as I thinks you to be, I'll take you by yo' liddle hand to walk wid me.

PAYING DEBTS WITH KICKS

I owes yo' daddy a peck o' peas.

I'se gwineter pay it wid my knees.

I owes yo' mammy a pound o' meat; An' I'se gwineter pay dat wid my feet.

Now, if I owes 'em somethin' mo'; You come right back an' let me know.

Please say to dem ('fore I fergets) I never fails to pay my debts.

GETTING TEN NEGRO BOYS TOGETHER

One liddle n.i.g.g.e.r boy whistle an' stew, He whistle up anudder n.i.g.g.e.r an' dat make two.

Two liddle n.i.g.g.e.r boys shuck de apple tree, Down fall anudder n.i.g.g.e.r, an' dat make three.

Three liddle n.i.g.g.e.r boys, a-wantin' one more, Never has no trouble a-gittin' up four.

Four liddle n.i.g.g.e.r boys, dey cain't drive.

Dey hire a n.i.g.g.e.r hack boy, an' dat make five.

Five liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs, bein' calcullated men, Call anudder n.i.g.g.e.r 'piece an' dat make ten.

HAWK AND CHICKENS

Hen an' chickens in a fodder stack, Mighty busy scratchin'.

Hawk settin' off on a swingin' lim', Ready fer de catchin'.

Hawk come a-whizzin' wid his bitin' mouf, Couldn' hold hisself in.

Hen, flyin' up, knock his eye clean out; An' de Jaybird died a-laughin'.

MUD-LOG POND

As I stepped down by de Mud-log pon', I seed dat bullfrog wid his shoe-boots on.

His eyes wus gla.s.s, an' his heels wus bra.s.s; An' I give him a dollar fer to let me pa.s.s.