Short Poems

There is, they say, no sweetest rose,
There is no fairest face; for fancy grows
Its own deceiver.
But, right or wrong, what does love care?
I say, " World over, only one's all fair, "
And so believe her.

They are lovers, the winds, that sweep o'er the lea;
He, the strong breeze that lashes the sea;
She the swift wind that sighs through the trees,
Breath of the pines, whose fragrance she grieves;
He strong and salt, with passionate cry,
North Wind and South Wind, lovingly sigh.

O massa take dat new bran coat And hang it on de wall,
Dat darkee take dat same ole coat And wear'em to de ball
O don't you hear my true lub sing?
O don't you hear 'em sigh?
Away down in Sunbury
I'm bound to live and die.

I'm in trouble, Lord, I'm in trouble,
I'm in trouble, Lord, 'trouble about my grave, trouble about my grave.
Sometimes I weep, sometimes I mourn,
I'm in trouble about my grave;
Sometimes I can't do neither one,
I'm in trouble about my grave.

Five can't ketch me and ten can't hold me,
Ho, . . . . . . round the corn, Sally!
Round the corn, round the corn, round the corn, Sally!
Ho, ho, ho, round the corn, Sally!

Here's your iggle-quarter and here's your count-aquils.
I can bank, 'ginny bank, 'ginny bank the weaver.

One cold freezing morning I lay dis body down;
I will pick up my cross an' follow my Lord All roun' my Fader's throne

Every hour in de day cry holy, Cry holy, my Lord!
Every hour in de day cry holy, Oh show me de crime I've done

Every hour in de night cry Jesus, etc.

Wai', Mister Mackright, an' 'e yedde what Satan say:
Satan full me full of music, an' tell me not to pray.
Mister Mackright cry holy; O Lord, cry holy.

When we do meet again, When we do meet again,
When we do meet again, I will be no more to part.
Brother Billy, fare you well,
Brother Billy, fare you well,
We'll sing hallelujah, when we do meet again.

I am a-trouble in de mind,
O I am a-trouble in de mind; I ask my Lord what shall I do,
I am a-trouble in de mind. I'm a-trouble in de mind,
What you doubt for? I'm a-trouble in de mind.

Old Satan told me to my face,
O yes, Lord, De God I seek I never find,
O yes, Lord. True believer, I know when I gwine home,
True believer, I know when I gwine home,
True believer, I know when I gwine home,
I been afraid to die.