Page:Negro poets and their poems (IA negropoetstheirp00kerl).pdf/37

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THE HERITAGE OF SONG
15

A, B, C,
Doubled down D;
I’se so lazy you cain’t see me.

A, B, C,
Doubled down D;
Lazy Chilluns gits hick’ry tea.

******

Buck an’ Berry run a race,
Buck fall down an’ skin his face.

Buck an’ Berry in a stall;
Buck, he try to eat it all.

Buck, he e’t too much, you see.
So he died wid choleree.

But it is in the dance songs that rhythm in its perfection makes itself felt and that repetends are employed with effects which another Poe or Lanier might appropriate for supreme art. A lively scene and gay frolicsome movements are conjured up by the following dance songs:

CHICKEN IN THE BREAD TRAY

“Auntie, will yo’ dog bite?”—
“No, Chile! No!”
Chicken in de bread tray
A makin’ up dough.

“Auntie, will yo’ broom hit?”—
“Yes, Chile!” Pop!
Chicken in de bread tray;
“Flop! Flop! Flop!”