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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

POMP'S DEFENSE by BELLE RICHARDSON HARRISON

First Line: I STOLE DEM BREECHES, I 'KNOWLEDGE DE CORN
Last Line: TER STEAL DEM BREECHES TER BE BAPTIZE' IN.
Subject(s): AFRICAN AMERICANS; BAPTISM; RELIGION; NEGROES; AMERICAN BLACKS; CHRISTENINGS; THEOLOGY;
I STOLE dem breeches, I 'knowledge de corn,
But 'twarn't no crime, ez sure ez you're born;
Ef de motiv' is right, den whar's de sin?
I stole dem breeches ter be baptize' in.

For my onliest pa'r wuz clean wored out,
Dey gib up de ghos' when I 'gun ter shout.
But r'ligion is mighty en mus' pervail,
Do it lands er darky in de county jail.

De chain-gang's got me en de coal mines too,
But what could er 'fenceless, colored man do,
When de jedge en jury lowed it wuz sin
Ter steal dem breeches ter be baptize' in.

Tell de folks all howdy en good-bye too,
I'll meet 'em in hebben when my wuck is fru,
Fur my heart is white, do my skin is black,
En I'm gwine ter trabble de shinin' track.

When de Lawd is jedge, I kno' He gwine say,
"Pomp's straight ez er shingle en fair ez de day."
He'll shout ter de worl' dat it twan't no sin
Ter steal dem breeches ter be baptize' in.



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