Classic and Contemporary Poetry
DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI, by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING Poet's Biography First Line: Oh, de ole plantation landin' Last Line: To de lonesomeness -- dat's all. Alternate Author Name(s): King, Ben Subject(s): African Americans; Mississippi River; Plantation Life; Rivers; Negroes; American Blacks | ||||||||
OH, de ole plantation landin', On de Mississippi sho', 'Pears es if I seed ole massa Standin' waitin' dar once mo' -- Back aways to whar de cabin's Almos' hid by lilac trees -- Seems es ef I h'yard po' missus Singin' old-time melodies. Hollyhocks en honeysuckles Grow en bloom along de way, Leadin' up dar to de cabin; But de ole folks, whar are dey? An' de winin' path a-leadin' Roun' de house; sometimes, a spell, Seems es ef I h'yard de win'less H'istin' watah f'om de well. Cap'n, kain yo' stop de boat, sah? Stop de boat, kase well I know I has done gone down dis rivah 'Bout es far's hi keah ter go. You kin lan' me soon's yo's ready, En I 'low I'll fin' mah way Back to dat ole shattah'd homestead Whar de sun shines froo to-day. Massa Lincoln's gunboats let' it Jais dat way in sixty-three; Cose dey did some monsus damage, But dey set us dahkies free. How I 'membah po' ole missus Standin' n'yah de cabin do' En she say: "Yo' gwine off, 'Rasmus? Ain' yo' gwine come back no mo'?" Den I sade: "Not zackly, missus; Somepin's done ketched ontah me. Dar's a big stampede ob darkies From Kaintuck en Tennessee. When de boat comes up de ribbah Whistlin' 'roun' de lower bow I mus' leebe de ole plantation -- Yas, must say good-bye en go." Massa so't o' bowed his haid, sah, Sittin' in 'is ole-ahm-chair; Missus, standin' on de do'step Caught de sunlight in her hair; An' de breezes from de orchard 'Peared to rustle froo de trees, En I h'yard old Judy weepin' Wid de chillun 'roun' her knees. Tale yo' I was mighty sad, sah, But I sort o' walked away. Years en years ago it was, sah; Now I'se wanderin' back to-day. 'Deed I'se lookin' back en gazin' Mos'ly now each side de stream. Lan'marks gittin' mighty natch'l, 'Clar hit 'pears jais like a dream. Dar's de place! Dat's hit, dar, cap'n, Dis yere side de ole ho'n bow; 'Low yo' needn't stop de steamah; Jais slack up a leetle -- slow. * * * * * Dar's de same ole steps a-climbin' F'om de landin' to de hill. Lan' ob goodness! Ef de bushes Ain't a-growin' thickah still. In de lan' ob de forgotten; Not a soul along de hill; Not a voice to wake yo' gladness; Everything do 'pear so still; Not an echo to a footstep; Not an ansah to a call 'Sep' a mockin'-bird a-singin' To de lonesomeness -- dat's all. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY AUNT ELLA MAE by MICHAEL S. HARPER DERRICK POEM (THE LOST WORLD) by TERRANCE HAYES ODE TO BIG TREND by TERRANCE HAYES WOOFER (WHEN I CONSIDER THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN) by TERRANCE HAYES CONDITIONS XXI by ESSEX HEMPHILL THE PESSIMIST by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING |
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