Optimism

Ef yo' hain't got er nickel
Ner yo' hain't got er dime,
An' yo' head's wool geddahd,
An' yo' kain't sing er rhyme,
An' you feel lak er sheep
Dat am los' fum it's hovel,
Dat am mixed in de mire
An' am stuck in de puddle.

Hab patience, bruddah!
Dis am er worrul ub triboolayshun;
It's thorns ez well ez roses
Fo' de white an' blackes' nation.

Ef yo' strike de trouble mountains
An' yo' take er little tumble,
Git up in er jiffy,
Take no time to sigh an' grumble;
Ef yo' koch'd in de stickers
An' yo' koch'd in de bramble,
An' yo' meet wid de debbil
Fo' yo' hal thoo yo' ramble.

Hab patience, bruddah!
Dis am er worrul ub triboolayshun;
It's thorns ez well ez roses
Fo' de white an' blackes' nation.

Ef yo' hyah de wolf er holl'rin'
Kaze he's got yo' on de scent!
An' yo' feelin' lil' ticklish
An' yo' courage's mighty scant,
An' de night cums 'roun',
Not er heaben light's er flicker,
An' de road keeps er windin'
An' de gloom gits thicker,
Hab patience, bruddah!
Dis am er worrul ub triboolayshun;
It's thorns ez well ez roses
Fo' de white an' blackes' nation.

Ef yo' stiff in de ankle,
Yo' kin hardly make er wobble,
An' yo' hea'ts sick an' achy
Dat it bahly makes er throbble,
An' yo' plight gits wussah
Kaze de trouble cums dubble,
An' it fills yo' wid discouragement
Lak de gasses fills er bubble,

Hab patience, bruddah!
Dis am er worrul ub triboolayshun;
It's thorns ez well ez roses
Fo' de white an' blackes' nation.