Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BEAUTY-LAND, by RUTH MCENERY STUART


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BEAUTY-LAND, by                    
First Line: Kiver up yo' eye, my baby, wid yo' mammy's sleeve
Last Line: Never leave 'er sleepin' baby 't all.
Subject(s): African Americans; Negroes; American Blacks


KIVER up yo' eye, my baby, wid yo' mammy's sleeve,
When de windy elemints is callin' out loud,
Dat's de way de stars dey go to sleep, I do believe:
Mammy Night she kivers up her babies wid a cloud.

White mamma, lady mamma, she's so mighty gay,
Beauty's boun' to dance at de ball;
But black mammy, nigger mammy, ain't a-gwine away,
Never leave 'er sleeping baby 't all.

All about in Slumber-Ian' dey's beauty layin' roun' —
Layin' loose, a-waitin' for de chillen to come in;
Yisterday my baby went, an' what you think she foun'
But dem creases in 'er wris'es an' dat dimple in 'er chin?

White mamma, lady mamma, she's so mighty gay,
Satin's boun' to rustle at de ball;
But black mammy, nigger mammy, never gwine away —
Ain't expected nowhar else at all.

Lady mamma walked in Beauty's gyarden as a babe;
Same ol' nigger mammy settin' watchin' at de gate,
Trusted wid de treasure dough dey say she was a slabe —
Oh, chillen, quit yo' foolin',' caze de times is gittin' late.

White mamma, lady mamma, she's so mighty gay,
Boun' to greet de gov'ner at de ball;
But black mammy, nigger mammy, ain't a-gwine away —
No, sir, Mister Angel, don't you call.

Baby's gone to Beauty-lan'—de pinky gates is shut —
So mammy gwine a-noddin', too, to gyardens in de sky,
To view de heavenly mansions whar de golden streets is set,
An' mammy an' her babies will be gathered by an' by.

White mamma, lady mamma, she's so mighty gay,
Boun' to grace de 'casion at de ball,
But black mammy, nigger mammy, ain't a-gwine away —
Never leave 'er sleepin' baby 't all.





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