Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MISS LIZA'S BANJER, by DANIEL WEBSTER DAVIS First Line: Hi! Miss liza's got er banjer Last Line: Must fust be in de soul. Subject(s): Banjos; Musical Instruments | ||||||||
Hi! Miss Liza's got er banjer; Lemme see it, ef yo' please! Now don' dat thing look pooty, A-layin' 'cross yer kneeze, Wid all dem lubly ribbins, An' silber trimmin's roun'. Now, mistis, please jes' tetch it, To lemme hear de soun'. 'Scuze me, mistis, but dar's sumfin' De matter wid dem strings; I notis it don' zackly Gib de proper kinder ring; An' den de way yo' hol' it Ain't lik' yo' orter do. Now, mistis, won't yo' lemme Jes' try a chune fur yo'? Now lis'n to de diffunce; I'se got the thing in chune, An' de music's lik' de breezes Dat fills de air in June. Fur a banjer's lik' a 'ooman -- Ef she's chuned de proper pitch, She'll gib yo' out de music Dat's sof', melojus, rich. But when yo' fail to chune her, Or to strike de proper string, Yo' kin no more git de music, Den mek' a kat-bird sing. An' 'taint always de fixin's Dat makes a 'ooman bes', But de kind ub wood she's made un Is de thing to stan' de tes'. I s'pose yer plays yer music Jes' lik' yo' hab it wrote, Or -- what is dat yo' call it -- A-playin' by de note? Yo' kin fill yer head wid music Ez full ez it kin hol', But yo' nebber gwine ter play it 'Tell yo' gits it in yer soul. T'ain't de proper notes dat makes yo' Feel lik' yo' wants to cry, But de soul dat's in de music Dat lif's yo' up on high; An' 'taint always de larnin', 'Do' a splendid thing, I kno', Dat lif's de low an' 'umble To higher things belo'. Keep larnin', den, Miss Liza, An' when yo' wants ter know Ef yo' kin play de banjer, Jes' kum to Uncle Joe; Jes' fill yer head wid music, Ez full ez it kin hol' But de music from de banjer Must fust be in de soul. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DRUMS AND BRASS by DONALD (GRADY) DAVIDSON ONE AND ONE by CECIL DAY LEWIS VISITING SUNDAY: CONVENT NOVITIATE by MADELINE DEFREES SEVERAL MEASURES FOR THE LITTLE LOST by NORMAN DUBIE NEAR MISS HAIKU by ANSELM HOLLO THE PLAYER PIANO by RANDALL JARRELL A BANJO SONG by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON AUNT CHLOE'S LULLABY by DANIEL WEBSTER DAVIS |
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