Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FAIR TIMES IN OLD TENNESSEE, by JOHN TROTWOOD MOORE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FAIR TIMES IN OLD TENNESSEE, by                     Poet's Biography
Last Line: Lord, when I die, jes' take me whar a fair is allers gwine!
Subject(s): African Americans; Southern States; Tennessee; Negroes; American Blacks; South (u.s.)


FAIR time in ole Tennessee, days jes' to yer makin',
Nights so cool an' crispy, jes' the kind for 'possum shakin',
Mornin's bright wid sun an' light of frosty dew an' flashy,
Weather jes' the kind to make the little nigger ashy!
Bacon in de rafters, sorghum mills er grindin' sweetin',
Punkins in de hay loft an' religun in de meetin'!

Fair time in ole Tennessee, ebery body gwine,
Waggins full o'pritty gals, dair ribbons jes' a-flyin',
Pikes jes' full o' people, an' de woods jes' full o' niggers
A-leadin' ob de pacin' colts wid marks down in de figgers.
Hoss an' jack an' jinny an' Jersey bull, all gwineter
Git dar, 'kase deys brudders to dat good ole hoss, Hal Pinter!

Fair time in ole Tennessee, ebery body stirrin'—
Cl'ar de road, dair comes er fool a'whippin' an' a'spurrin'!
Look out dair yo' nigger, Julius Sezer Andrer Asker!
Lead dat pesky jack erside and let dis Hal hoss pass, suh!
Dun fergot your raisin', eh? Fust thing dat you kno', suh,
You think de State ob Tennessee dun drap on you, fer sho', suh!

Fair time in ole Tennessee, all de niggers dancin',
All de hosses in de ring a-pacin' an' a-prancin',
White folks drinkin' lemonade jes' lak it was col' water,
Nigger drinkin' 'simmon beer, de drink he allers orter,
Nights jes' full er moonlight wid de darkey's heel a-flyin'—
Lord, when I die, jes' take me whar a fair is allers gwine!





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