Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MAMMY SUE, by MARY C. HERGET


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MAMMY SUE, by                    
First Line: In the dim days of the long ago
Last Line: "hummin', hummin', hummin'."
Subject(s): African Americans - Song & Music; Household Employees; Singing & Singers; Sleep; Servants; Domestics; Maids; Songs


In the dim days of the Long Ago,
Mammy Sue,
Your kind old black face seems aglow,
Mammy Sue.
Ah! Would I could climb in your lap,
And hear you croon of Uncle Nap
To the rhythm of the chair's "tap, tap,"
Dear old Mammy Sue!
"Shet yo' eyes, my honey chile,
Uncle Nap's a-comin',
En take you wid him fer a while
To de lan' wid bees a-hummin',
Hummin', hummin', low en low,
Hummin', hummin', hummin'."

You softly sang the sleepy song,
Mammy Sue.
The drowsy sandman stole along,
Mammy Sue.
All cuddled in your arms I lay,
My baby cares quite soothed away,
While round us slipped the shadows grey,
Dear old Mammy Sue!
"Shet yo' eyes, my honey chile,
Uncle Nap's a-comin',
En take you wid him fer a while
To de lan' wid bees a-hummin'.
Hummin', hummin', low en low,
Hummin', hummin', hummin'."

The Master called you to His fold,
Mammy Sue.
Your faithful heart grew still and cold,
Mammy Sue.
In dreamland you come back to me,
The night-gowned child kneels at your knee,
While Memory sings this melody,
Dear black Mammy Sue!
"Shet yo' eyes, my honey chile,
Uncle Nap's a-comin',
En take you wid him fer a while,
To de lan' wid bees a-hummin'.
Hummin', hummin', low en low,
Hummin', hummin', hummin'."





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