Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GRATITUDE DOWN SOUTH, by EDWINA WOOD WHITESIDE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GRATITUDE DOWN SOUTH, by                    
First Line: I'se des a little cullud boy
Last Line: "let yo' co'science be yo' guide."
Subject(s): African Americans - Children; Southern States; South (u.s.)


I'se des a little cullud boy,
An' I knows dat it ain't right
To allus be a-wishin'
Dat God had made me white.

I ax His pardon for my sin,
Though Mammy says some-day
Dat God will tell me why it was
He made me dis-er-way.

Now don't misunderstan' me --
There's times I'se glad I'se black;
Like when I been er-fishin',
An' when I'se comin' back

An' pass erlong de Jem'son farm
An see -- mos' in de road,
A great big watermelon,
Jes' lookin' like it growed

Right in my very footsteps.
Den somethin' down inside
Says, "Boy, you'se jest er nigger;
Let yo' co'science be yo' guide."





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