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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LITTLE 'RASMUS by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING

First Line: DE GREAT GOOD SPERET COME DOWN FROM ABOVE
Last Line: TOOK PO' LEETLE 'RASMUS AWAY.
DE Great Good Speret come down from above
An' took leetle 'Rasmus away;
Took my leetle 'Rasmus dat played peep wid me,
En rode out to Banbury Cross on my knee,
Took po' leetle 'Rasmus away.
Took my leetle 'Rasmus dat played roun' de do'
An' danced at de sunbeams dat fell on de flo',
Took my leetle 'Rasmus away.

Dat's why I'se down-hearted an' kain't fin' relief,
An' ol' an' bent over; I'se loaded with grief
Kase 'Rasmus has done gone away.
De Great Good Speret comes down from de sky
An' hovahs aroun' ebbery day,
An' hit 'pears what yo's lovin' a leetle too much,
De Good Speret takes it away,
Kase He took leetle 'Rasmus away.

But I know de Good Speret mus' be mighty glad,
But dis darky's heart am jes' mounful an' sad
Since 'Rasmus has done gone away.
An' mos'ly at morn, when de whimperin' breeze
Am loiterin' up in de sycamore trees,
An' at noon when de sun dances roun' on de flo'
Dis ole darky's heart am jes' burdened wid woe,
An' at night twixt de win' an' de patterin' rain,
My po' soul an' body am restless wid pain
Since 'Rasmus has done gone away.

But I know de Good Speret comes down from de sky
An' hovahs aroun' ebbery day,
An' hit 'pears what yo' worship a leetle too much
De Good Speret takes it away,
Kase He took leetle 'Rasmus away --
Took po' leetle 'Rasmus away.



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