Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE OLD MAMMY, by BELLE RICHARDSON HARRISON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE OLD MAMMY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Hush, lil baby, en go ter sleep
Last Line: Er heap sight mo' dan his mudder do!
Subject(s): African Americans; Babies; Mothers; Sleep; Negroes; American Blacks; Infants


(A Darky Lullaby.)

HUSH, lil baby, en go ter sleep,
Mammy gwine tell him tales er heap,
Mammy gwine sing him songs ernuff,
Jess let Mammy git er dip uv snuff.
O what make yer holler lak dat?
Jess look at ole brindle cat,
Jumpin' en kervortin', sniffin' en snortin',
Caze she done kotch er rat.

Did lil baby git snuff in its eye?
Shet dem peepers en don' you cry.
You's plum wo'd out, you runs all day,
En don' do nuffin but eat en play.
O how come you holler lak dat?
Patty cake er baker's pat,
De cat lick her chops, fur she eat up de rat,
Patty cake er baker's pat.

Hush, lil baby, Mammy's lil man
Gwine ter be president uv dis lan',
Lil bal' haid gwine w'ar er crown,
Stop dat kickin' 'fore I put yer down.
O what make yer twis' on my lap?
Ef yer don' min', I let yer drap;
Now you is yawnin' en ginnin' ter gap,
I speck yer gwine take yer nap.

Now lil baby kin lie in his crib,
Les' unbutton dis ole wet bib.
Don' you picaninnies make no fuss,
Or I'll lay I'll make yer git up en dus'.
Mammy's lil man is fas' ter sleep,
Mammy sho lubs dis chile er heap;
O she lubs dis chile twixt me en you
Er heap sight mo' dan his Mudder do!





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