Page:The book of American negro poetry.djvu/148

This page has been validated.
96
John Wesley Holloway

THE CORN SONG

Jes' beyan a clump o' pines,—
Lis'n to 'im now!—
Hyah de jolly black boy,
Singin', at his plow!
In de early mornin',
Thoo de hazy air,
Loud an' clear, sweet an' strong
Comes de music rare:

"O mah dovee, Who-ah!
Do you love me? Who-ah!
Who-ah!"
An' as 'e tu'ns de cotton row,
Hyah 'im tell 'is ol' mule so;
Whoa! Har! Come 'ere!"

Don't yo' love a co'n song?
How it stirs yo' blood!
Ever'body list'nin',
In de neighborhood!
Standin' in yo' front do'
In de misty mo'n,
Hyah de jolly black boy,
Singin' in de co'n:

"O Miss Julie, Who-ah!
Love me truly, Who-ah!
Who-ah!"