Classic Poem

PONCHUS PILUT ust to be
Ist a Slave , an' now he's free .
Slaves wuz on'y ist before
The War wuz — an' ain't no more.

He works on our place fer us, —
An' comes here — sometimes he does.
He shocks corn an' shucks it. — An'
He makes hominy " by han' " ! —

Wunst he bringed us some, one trip,
Tied up in a piller-slip:
Pa says, when Ma cooked it, " M Y !
This-here's gooder'n you buy! "

Ponchus pats fer me an' sings;
An' he says most funny things!
Ponchus calls a dish a " deesh " —
Yes, an' he calls fishes " feesh " !

When Ma want him eat wiv us
He says, " 'Skuse me — 'deed you mus'!
Ponchus know' good manners, Miss. —
He ain' eat wher' White-folks is! "

'Lindy takes his dinner out
Wher' he's workin' — roun' about. —
Wunst he et his dinner spread
In our ole wheelborry-bed.

Ponchus Pilut says " ' at's not
His right name, — an' done fergot
What his sho'-'nuff name is now —
An' don' matter none no how! "

Yes, an' Ponchus he'ps Pa, too,
When our butcherin' 's to do,
An' scalds hogs — an' says, " Take care
'Bout it, er you'll set the hair! "

Yes, an' out in our back yard
He he'ps 'Lindy rendur lard;
An', wite in the fire there, he
Roast' a pigtail wunst fer me. —

An' ist nen th'ole tavurn bell
Rung, down-town, an' he says, " Well! —
Hear dat! Lan' o' Caanan , Son,
Ain't dat bell say " Pigtail done! "

— " Pigtail done!
Go call Son! —
Tell dat
Chile dat
Pigtail done!" "