Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONG OF THE CORN, by JAMES EDWIN CAMPBELL


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONG OF THE CORN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: O, hits time fur de plantin' ur de co'n
Last Line: O, hits time fur de eatin' ur de co'n.
Subject(s): African Americans; Corn; Gullahs; Negroes; American Blacks


O, hits time fur de plantin' ur de co'n;
De groun' am wa'm, de furrers made --
("Caw! caw!" de black crow larf,)
Put ur han'le in yo' ol' hoe blade --
("Caw! caw!" de black crow larf)
O, hits time fur de plantin' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de plantin' ur de co'n,
De chipmunk sot on top ur clod --
("Cheat! cheat!" de rahskil say)
He flirt his tail an' wink an' nod --
("Cheat! cheat!" de rahskil say,)
O, hits time fur de plantin' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de hoein' ur de co'n,
De co'n am up an' full ur grass --
(Hot, hot, de sun hit shine,)
Hit beat de wu'l' how weeds grow fas' --
(Hot, hot, de sun hit shine,)
O, hits time fur de hoein' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de hoein' ur de co'n,
Hit stan'in' knee-high in de row --
(Hot, hot, de sun hit shine,)
One mo' time an' we'll let hit go --
(Hot, hot, de sun hit shine,)
O, hits time fur de hoein' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de cuttin' ur de co'n,
De blades am dry, de milk am ha'd --.
(Hack, hack, de co'n knives say,)
De hawgs am killed an' ren'nered la'd --.
(Hack, hack, de co'n knives say,)
O, hits time fur de cuttin' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de cuttin' ur de co'n,
Dars w'ite fros' in de still night a'r --
(Hack, hack, de co'n knives say,)
Come urlong, Sam, le's grin' ur pa'r --
(Hack, hack, de co'n knives say,)
O, hits time fur de cuttin' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de huskin' ur de co'n,
De boys an' gyurls am all come out --
(Rip, rip, de brown pegs go,)
You hyuh 'em sing an' larf an' shout --
(Rip, rip, de brown pegs go,)
O, hits time fur de huskin' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de huskin' ur de co'n,
Dar's Reuben's side am a'mos' froo --
(Rip, rip, de brown pegs go,)
Hurry up, Sam, deys leabin' you --
(Rip, rip, de brown pegs go,)
O, hits time fur de huskin' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de grin'in' ur de co'n,
Run 'long, honey, an' git yo' sack --
("Clack, clack," de mill wheel say,)
An' put hit on ol' Betsy's back --
("Clack, clack," de mill wheel say,)
O, hits time fur de grin'in' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de grin'in' ur de co'n,
Des ride five mile ur roun' de hill --
("Clack, clack," de mill wheel say,)
Den dump yo' load at Thompson's mill --
("Clack, clack," de mill wheel say,)
O, hits time fur de grin'in' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de eatin' ur de co'n,
Mammy, bake us ur co'n pone brown --
("Good, good," de chillen cry,)
Draw up yo' chyuh an des sot down --
("Good, good," de chillen cry,)
O, hits time fur de eatin' ur de co'n.

O, hits time fur de eatin' ur de co'n,
Wid ham an' aigs an' coffee strong --
("Good, good," de chillen cry,)
Dat big co'n pone hit woan' las' long --
("Good, good," de chillen cry,)
O, hits time fur de eatin' ur de co'n.





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