Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LITTLE SAM, by JOHN TROTWOOD MOORE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LITTLE SAM, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Lo, de cabin's empty
Last Line: Will take dis po' ole nigger home, to be wid little sam.
Subject(s): African Americans - Children; Slavery; Serfs


LO, de cabin's empty,
De chilluns all am gohn,
De jimsun weed gro' 'roun' de do',
De grass dun tuck de cohn,
De fiah am turned to ashes,
De hoe-cake's col' an' clam;
I wants ter go to de Master now—
He tuck po' little Sam.

Po' little Sam, dat played erroun' de do',
Dat wake me in de mohnin' when de chickens 'gin ter cro',
De Marster's royal cherriut cum down wid steeds ob flame,
He had ten million angels but he wanted mine de same.

His coffin wus er ole pine box,
(Po' little lonesome waif!)
Whut matter whar de col' clay am,
Jes' so de soul am safe.
I gethered cotton blossums,
'Twus all de flowers I hed—
Lak him, gohn in de mohnin'
Befo' de dew wus shed.

Po' little Sam, dat played erroun' de do',
No more I'll heah him call me when de chickens 'gin to cro',
De Marster's royal cherriut cum down wid steeds ob flame,
He had ten million angels but he wanted mine de same.

Lo, my heart am empty,
My life hopes dey am fled,
Jes' cut dis ole dry tree down, Lord,
De moss am on its head—
Why should de ole man sorrow heah
Sence you tuk little Sam?
Jes' let me be thy servant, Lord,
In de manshun whar he am!

Po' little Sam, dat played erroun' de do',
Sum mohn' I'll heah him call me when de chicken 'gin to cro',
An' den de Marster's cherriut will take me es I am,
Will take dis po' ole nigger home, to be wid little Sam.





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