Classic and Contemporary Poetry
UNDER OBLIGATIONS (A NEGRO PARSON'S CHRISTMAS SERMON), by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING Poet's Biography First Line: I notice dat de weddah's rathah chilsome, mo' o' less, Last Line: Kase yo's undah obligashuns to ole santa claus. Alternate Author Name(s): King, Ben Subject(s): African Americans; Blacks; Christmas; Santa Claus; Sermons; Negroes; American Blacks; Nativity, The; Nicholas, Saint | ||||||||
INOTICE dat de weddah's rathah chilsome, mo' or less, An' I notice dat de back-log so't o' crackles, Lor' bress? -- Ole Crimp is on de tuhnpike an' de fross is on de faince An' Sant' Claus 'll soon be hyah, so chillun, hab saince. I seed 'im on Ole Massa's ruff; twar jais de oddah night, Wid a span ob balky reindyahs, bofe um dapple gray an' white. Dey war hitched to a monsus lookin' alligatah sleigh, An' filled wid gifts fo' de chillun, piled ebery which un way. Hab any ob yo' chillun bin a-sinnin'? Or a-sassin' yo' suppearyahs, or a-grinnin'? Yo' bettah read yo' Bible 'bout ole Moses an' de laws, Foh yo's undah obligashuns to Ole Santa Claus. How many ob yo' chillun bin a-tendin' to de church? An' done made up yo' minds to leabe de debbil in de lurch, Hab yo' tended up to Sunday-school, an' listen'd to yo' teachah? Does yo' always drap a nickel to try an' spote yo' preachah? Am yo' wilful to yo' faddah or yo' muddah? Does yuh pestervate yo' sistah or yo' bruddah? Yo' bettah change yo' tacticks cause, well, jess because Yo's undah obligashuns now to Ole Santa Claus. Kin yo' ansuah all dese questions dat yo' pastah has perferd? Ef yo' kaint, yo' bettah hang yo' haids en nevah say a word; Foh yo' pastah sort ob reckons dat de debbil's bin bo'n in yuh An' when ole Santa Claus comes roun' he'll surely be agin yo'. So, ef any ob yo' chillun bin a-sinnin', Or a-sassin' yo' suppearyahs, or a-grinnin', Yo' bettah read yo' Bible, don't yo' hesitate or pause, Kase yo's undah obligashuns to Ole Santa Claus. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SAINT NICHOLAS by MARIANNE MOORE PANCAKES WITH SANTA by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE WITH BEST WISHES by DOROTHY PARKER A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS by CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE CHRISTMAS EVE by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS CHRISTMAS MORNING by BURGES JOHNSON THE PESSIMIST by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING |
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