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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CHANT OF THE CROSS-BEARING CHILD, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I bear dis cross dis many a mile Last Line: "de cross-bearin' chile!" Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Children; Crosses; Life; Childhood | |||
I BEAR dis cross dis many a mile. O de cross-bearin' chile -- De cross-bearin' chile! I bear dis cross 'long many a road Wha' de pink ain't bloom' an' de grass done mowed. O de cross-bearin' chile -- De cross-bearin' chile! Hit's on my conscience all dese days Fo' ter bear de cross 'ut de good Lord lays On my po' soul, an' ter lif my praise O de cross-bearin' chile -- De cross-bearin' chile! I's nigh 'bout weak ez I mos' kin be, Yit de Marstah call an' He say, -- "You's free Fo' ter 'cept dis cross, an' ter cringe yo' knee To no n'er man in de worl' but Me!" O de cross-bearin' chile -- De cross-bearin' chile! Says you guess wrong, ef I let you guess -- Says you 'spec' mo', an'-a you git less: -- Says you go eas', says you go wes', An' whense you fine de road 'ut you like bes' You betteh take chice er any er de res'! O de cross-bearin' chile -- De cross-bearin' chile! He build my feet, an' He fix de signs Dat de shoe hit pinch an' de shoe hit bines Ef I on'y w'ah eights an'-a wanter w'ah nines; I hone fo' de rain, an' de sun hit shines, An' whilse I hunt de sun, hit's de rain I fines. -- O-a trim my lamp, an'-a gyrd my lines! O de cross-bearin' chile -- De cross-bearin' chile! I wade de wet, an' I walk de dry: I done tromp long, an' I done clim' high; An' I pilgrim on ter de jasper sky, An' I taken de resk fo' ter cas' my eye Wha' de Gate swing wide an' de Lord draw nigh, An' de Trump hit blow, an' I hear de cry, -- "You lay dat cross down by an' by! -- O de Cross-bearin' Chile -- De Cross-bearin' Chile!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN CHILDREN SELECTING BOOKS IN A LIBRARY by RANDALL JARRELL COME TO THE STONE ... by RANDALL JARRELL THE LOST WORLD by RANDALL JARRELL A SICK CHILD by RANDALL JARRELL CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON THE DEATH OF FRIENDS IN CHILDHOOD by DONALD JUSTICE THE POET AT SEVEN by DONALD JUSTICE A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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