Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DE EYARFQUAKE, by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DE EYARFQUAKE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: De eyarfquake a-shakin'
Last Line: Dey 'll nevah tech de groun'.
Alternate Author Name(s): King, Ben
Subject(s): Disasters; Earthquakes


DE eyarfquake a-shakin'
Jes' a short time ago
Was Belzabub a-pullin'
Out de clinkers down below.
So yo' bettah drap yo' sinnin',
Kase ol' Satan he's a-grinnin',
Bime-by de big saxafhone
Am shuahly gwine to blow.

Cose yo's laffin now,
Bekase it's mighty still.
Bime-by she gwine ter shake
Wid a pow'ful heavy chill;
An' de ole bell in de towah
'S gwine to fall down wid de powah,
An' de millstones go dancin'
Roun' de bottom ob de mill.

Some day dar's gwine ter open
De bigges' kin' ob crack,
An' dis hyar coon's a-hopin'
Dat de Lord won't hol' yo' back,
'Speshly Jaspah Jones McClellan,
'Yo's de one I 'se bin a-tellin'
'But de use of bad profanity
An' also plug terbac.

'Fore de debbil shake
De furnace down agin,
Yo' bettah ask de Lord
To rid yo' ob yo' sin,
Kase when Satan wants some fuel
To warm up his brimstone gruel
He'll ope de furnace do'
An' de draf' 'll suck yo' in.

Doan be loafin' now
An' shootin' craps aroun';
Yo' bettah be a-tryin' on
De white probashion gown;
Fus' yo' know all ob a sudden
Mos' yo' coons 'll take to scuddin'
An' dose cushun feet
Dey 'll nevah tech de groun'.





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