Textarchiv - Elliott Blaine Henderson

Uncle Esau's Courtin'

mrbot — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 21:10:02 +0000

Whut's dat chile, whut's dat yo' ax me?
Tell yo' how I ustah court?
Well sah, ha! ha! dat doan' beet me,
Yo' wan' make out me some sport?

Did yo' heah dat chile, Mahlissy?
Why he's ole up in de head.
Hain't dry 'hine de yeahs an' thinkin'
About courtin' lak ole Ned.

Mus' I tell him? Mus' I Lissy?
Now doan blush behine de yeah.
Look out koch hole dah ub Peeno
Fo' he fills off ub dat cheer.

Well now chile since yo hab ax me,
Fo' to 'late sum ub mah pranks,
Dat Ise currin' and a kyahvin
When Ise in de courtin' ranks.

Take dat bunk and go a sotin'
An' de ole man'll tell to yo'
Sum de things when yo git oldah
Ef yo kyah why yo' kin do.

Well, de old man when's he's soople
In de jints an' doodin' roun',
Wuz ez good at spahkin' ladies
Ez dey's to be 'roun' er foun'.

Mah ole lady dah kin tell yo'
Dat Ise jes right up to snuff
When I stepp'd out dahkies pinted
Sayin' he am jes de stuff.

I wuz dis hyar kind er pussons
Dat wuz high strung tarr'ble proud;
Allus woh de bes' ub toggins
Dat wuz 'spensib mighty loud.

But to make de story shordah
We'll tawk 'bout jes' 'Liss an' I,
Son, de ole lady's a blushin'
An' a tryin' to ax sort shy.

Fus' time dat I met Mahlissy
'Twuz wan mansahpayshun day.
Oh, my, but she wux den, sonnie,
Awful vain an' flouncin' gay.

She's jes crazy fo' to meet me
Kaze Ise togg'd up lookin' slick.
Out ub all de young dudds dah, sah,
I kood tell dat Ise her pick.

Wif Malissy, ha! ha! sonnie,
'Twuz a case ub lub fus' sight.
Now, 'Liss, no use yo eyes rollin',
Fo' yo' know dat I is right.

She wuz twis'in' an' a tarnin'
An' a lif'n up her trail,
Thowin, dem twinklin' eyes up at me
An' jes struttin' lak a quail.

Den she'd primp her mouf, go pullin'
At her frizzus an' jes grin,
An' her ebry moob jes' tole me
Dat wif her I sho' could win.

Nebah 'gin de walls ub college
Did I ebah rub mah head,
But when spahkin ladies bet I
Undahstood all dat dey said.

Las' I got on her to callin',
Wan' to see me ebry night.
When I tole her 'bout sum mo gals.
Why de ole gal wan' to fight.

"Look hyeah, Pedro, quit dat lyin',
An' yo' pussyfyin' 'sults;
Ef yo doan' yo'll git dis flat iron
Wif de mos' dizzastrus r'sults."

Ha! ha! whut's de mattah, 'Lissy?
Hain't de old man tellin' troof?
Way yo' bilin' an' a stewin'
Fum de hut wood raze de roof.

Go on wif dat irenin', 'Lissy
Let me an' de boy 'lone tawk.
We doan' wan' yo' in a puttin'
Make ah conbahsayshun bawk.

Sumtimes when I'd go to see her,
Long time since I las' had call'
She'd jes' throw her arms aroun' me
An' jes' bellah, cry an' ball.

"Gimme dat dah pokah, Sukie,
Ise dun stan'd dis long er nuff.
Now ole man, ef yo' doan' 'klood dat
Ise gwine treet yo' mighty ruff.

"Oh, shet up ahout de Gospul
An' de ligyun dat Ise got;
Ef I loose dis I kin git mo'
Out de free salbayshun pot.

"Yo' am 'nuff to make Br'e'r Gabriel
Drap his hawn an' cuss a tune,
Let 'lone me, Mahlissy Pedro,
A poh sinnin' hep'less coon.

"Kose I shout when I git happy,
Feels de Lawd in eb'ry bone,
Dat's no sign dat I woan' swot yo'
When yo' all woan' lemme 'lone.

'Ef you'd bring back dem dah spackle
Legged chickens dat yo' stole,
In de Lam's blud dey might be chance
Fo' yo' soul to be washed whole."

Neb mine, yo' he'p eat dem chickens.
All I got's de fus' drum stick.
Wooden got dat if I haden'
Used de slight han' 'formance trick.

"Well, yo' hain't gwine git no chicken
Fo' yo' suppah hyeah dis night.
Yo' ole stummick kin jes tinkah
Clah till cummin' ub daylight."

Oh, now 'Lissy, Ise jes funnin'
Yo' gits mad' fly up two quick's
Pussun duz a little jokin'
Yo' fly up all out ub fix.

"Neb mine dat dah chicken, Pedro
Dis night yo' hain' gwine to tas'e,
So dey's no use skussin' fuddah,
All yo' wurds dey am a waste.

Now, Malissy, yo' knows, honey,
Indigesshun dat I'se got,
An' de' Lawd in Heben knows it's
Only thing wood hep dat spot.

"Go to bed fo Lawd sake, ole man,
Chickens am a crow'n fo' day;
Yo' might beg fum now 'till dooms day,
Wooden' change whut Ise dun say."

Elliott Blaine Henderson

1907

Chicken Koop an' Possum Chase

mrbot — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 21:10:05 +0000

Possum time?
Dahky take up de trail.
Rahbit skirtin' thoo de thicket,
In de barn yawd sots de quail.
Cum long de moon,
Den's de time to chase de coon.
Bull frog an' de turtle
In de lagoon hol' commune.

So it's 'joice yo'se'ves, chillun,
Fros' er stickin' to de vine,
Possum an' de coon time!
Dahky, fall in line.

Th'ow erside de banjo,
Chillun stop de fiddle whine,
Spawkin' an' er courtin',
An' yo' dancin' monkey shine.

Take yo' li'l' nippin'
An' yo' tase yo' li'l' gin,
Nebah res' er minute
Till yo' chased de possum in.

So it's 'joice yo'se'ves, chillun,
Fros' er stickin' to de vine,
Possum an' de coon time!
Dahky, fall in line.

Stir up now de embahs.
Chillun shet de' oven do'
Pine notts keep er pilin'
In de fiahplace, lots ub mo'.
Make her raise er rumpus
Kaze we gwine to hab er feas'.
Soon we'll hab er possum
Dah er bakin' in de grease.

So it's 'joice yo'se'ves, chillun,
Fros' er stickin' to de vine,
Possum an' de coon time!
Dahky, fall in line.

Sno'flakes am er fallin'
An' de breezes got er moan;
Cumin' now de echoes
Am de lonely howlin' tone.
Cum on wid ol' Efram,
Chillum let us go er sail,
Chasin' fo' de possum
Kaze de dogs dun struck de trail.

So it's 'joice yo'se'ves, chillun,
Fros' er stickin' to de vine,
Possum an' de coon time!
Dahky, fall in line.

Three fours to de right!
Now let er go kerwobble.
Keep up Brer Isaacs,
Fo' de Lawd sakes quit yo' hobble.
Ef yo' spec' to koch er possum,
Er yo' spec' to tree er coon,
Mus' thro' er way yo' roomsticks,
Git yo' jints all iled in chune.

So it's 'joice yo'se'ves chillun,,
Fros' er stickin' to de vine,
Possum an' de coon time!
Dahky, fall in line.

Fo' de gracious Mahstah!
Chillun, dah's er chicken koop.
Fiddlesticks to goodness,
Doan' dat beat er dahky troop?
Er bird dat's in de ban'
Am sho wurf twenty in de bush;
We hain't sho' ub possum,
Fo' de chicken koop! kerpush!

So it's 'joice yo'se'ves, chillun,
Fros' er stickin' to de vine,
Possum changed to chicken time,
Dahky, fall. in line.

Elliott Blaine Henderson

1907

Soft Falls the Night

mrbot — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 21:10:01 +0000

Soft Falls the Night.
Soft falls the night—
And chases 'way
The slowly dying
Summer day;
The sun from his
Ethereal height
Is curtained
By the shades of night.

Soft falls the night—
The birds that tune
Their songs to nature
In commune,
Now hush their lays,
Seek silent rest
Within their downy,
Leafy nests.

Soft falls the night—
The starry hosts
Creep 'cross the dome
Like silent ghosts;
And on and
Like sheep they stray—
Within their wake
Cast silvery rays.

Soft falls the night—
A peaceful sleep
O'er earthly mortals
Doth now creep;
They rest now from
Their day's pursuit,
The world is still!
The world is mute!

Soft fails the night—
The verdure green
Now glistens with
A dewy sheen;
The flowers droop,
Their petals close,
They dream away
In sweet repose.

Soft fades the night—
Lo! breaks the dawn!
And Nature 'wakens
With the morn;
Exultingly sends up
Her lays,
Her symphonies
To God in praise.

Elliott Blaine Henderson

1907

The Pawson's Thanksgiving Call

mrbot — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 21:10:06 +0000

Sistah! Bress Gawd! Thot I'd drap in jes' er while,
See ef yo's er gittin' 'long de besses kine er style,
Kose it's kine er early in de mawnin' fo' to call.
Beddah make it early, den to make it not at tall.

"Well, sah, look heah Eldah! Lawd er mussy! Am dis you?
Lan' sakes fo' to goodness! How yo' cum on? How yo' do?
Jes' er fixin' breckfess' wider little chicken stew.
No use tawkin' Eldah, yo' mus' sot down wid de few."

Look heah, Sistah Tootsy! I hain't hongry, not at tall;
I'd be glad to sot an' ax de bressin's fo' yo' all.
Keep erway yo' anger, wid de res' I'll take er seat;
Take er few dem biskitts, little chicken fo' er treat.

Bet I'll hah no 'fusein' I woan' lissen now to dat;
Sot down on dat sofa, res' yo' coat an' res' yo' hat.
'Membah when yo's drappin' 'neef ol' Sistah Tootsy's roof,
Yo' mus' take ub sumfiin! Heah me? Bet I'se tellin' troof!

Look heah Wash'ton Rastus! let dat chicken, sah! alone.
Eldah, fo' to goodness! dat chile am de debbil's own.
Fus' he's in de chicken, den de nex' he's in de jam
Dat's er pow'ful weakness nearly all de race ub Ham.

Walk out, Eldah Legbowl. See heah, chillun, stop yo' fuss!
Fightin' an' er scramlin' an' er kickin' sech er muss!
Sot heah, Eldah Legbowl, whah de chicken's easy reach.
Lawd sakes! Eldah Legbowl, how I loves to heah yo' preach.

Say grace fo' us, Eldah, I'll sot down sah, aftah while,
Kaze I wan' to serve yo' in de besses' kine o' style.
He'p yo'se'f, mah bruddah, dah to all yo' see in sight.
Fill up, Eldah Legbowl, doan' yo' now be eatin' light.

Lissen, Heabenly Foddah, all mah prayahs yo's answered sho'!
Ebbery bressed word sah, in Yo' Bible all am so.
Fix so de pawson will hah allus now an' den
Sech ez am befo' me hyah dis mawnin' sah! Amen!
Cum on Sistah Tootsy, wid de chicken—I is dun!
Umph! dey's so persoovyus, 'pears dat I kin eat er tun.
Whee! Whut am dem chittlins dat am fryin' sech er rate?
Am it? Lawd sakes, honey, let yo' pawson fix his plate!

Eat sum mo' dat chicken, Eldah; dey's mo' in de pot.
Plenty dah er stewin' an' er jumpin' sizzlin' hot.
Doan' yo' see dat possum dat's er dreamin' over dah?
Possum! Whut's dat, sistah? See er possum over whah?

Look hyah, dat. hain't possum, am it? Well sah! I be Jim!
Kyarve me sum his side meat an' de fus' an' secun' lim.
I'se chucked full already, but I mus' make room fo' dat.
Dat's whut makes yo' Pawson look so pussy, big an' fat!

See hyah, Sistah Tootsy, now! tell yo' yo' woan do.
Put yo' down mah prayer book ez er sistah sho' am true.
Kose I wasn't hongry! Thowt I'd take er little bite.
Sho' mah frenly spirit. Now good sistah, hain't dat right?

I jes' feel ez thankful, sistah, fo' dem few bites way I feel;
I jes' feel ez thankful's ef I'd eat er whole squah meal.
E'cuse me, Sistah Tootsy, kaze I mus' be gittin' 'long.
Gum tonight to meetin'! Dey's kerleckshun aftah song.

Elliott Blaine Henderson

1907

Freedom for All! For None No Thrall!

mrbot — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 21:10:07 +0000

Freedom For All! For None No Thrall!
Columbia! Before thy shrine we bow,
List to our humble pleading now!
For deliverance mortals weep, commingle mute.

Our souls are weighted down with woe,
Which aggregate a mighty cross,
Lend us thine ear in reverence,
Let not an humble plea be lost.

Sad is our plight, dismayed we grope,
The lowering clouds in secret might
Conspire to hide becloud Hope's sun
That shines upon yon thrilling heights!

Bliss is the goal for which men strive
That state, bereft of sighs and woes,
Where things congenial e'er survive,
Where all are friends, where none are foes!

Thou'rt crowned with glory unexcelled;
The world has acquiesced in awe,
That thou art mighty in thy power,
Most potent is thy word and law!

Thine is the power, to burst the thrall,
And free thy sons from black'ning pall,
That they may stand like men of old,
Proud they are of thy mighty fold!

God did'st Himself ally with thee,
To set His sons and daughters free!
He approbates no color line!
Be just to all mortality!

Let justice ring from every height!
Teach men to lend an ear to right!
Black's no disgrace—God made us all!!
Freedom for all! For none no thrall!

Patriot ardor thrills the breast
Of every noble son of Ham!
Let not thy banner mean to him
A reverie, a mock, a sham!

They've trod the field in battle's might—
And when thy elation sounded, "Fight!"
Forward! was their battle cry,
For they believed thy cause was right!

High on the heights of liberty,
Where floats thy banner on the air,
Our noble sons fought, bled and died!
'Mid glory helped to place it there!

Goddess, thy sacred tears
Triumphant as the years,
Give us the help for which we're cried,
Thrill us with the ecstacy
That makes the soul feel edified

Elliott Blaine Henderson

1907

Reminiscence

mrbot — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 21:10:04 +0000

When de shadows ah de e'ebnin's
Gently, sof'ly fallin' 'roun',
'Cross de lonely field an' meadows,
Cums de cattle's lowin' soun';
An' de vespah bells am ringin'
An' dey blen' in tuneful lay,
It's a knell dat's sad an' mournful
To de dying summah day.

An' yo' weary rum de labah
Ub de tillin' ub de soil,
Fum sun up 'till time ub sinkin'
Wifout res' mus' toil an' toil;
How yo' welcum on de hours,
Blissful seezuns all ub res'
When a neslin' 'neef de kibbahs,
Yo' kin soff'en pillahs press.

When de li'l' lights ub hebun
Fum behine day kibbah peep,
All er blinkin' an' er twinklin'
Ez dey 'cross de hebuns creep;
Dah's a sadden feelin' takes yo',
Ez yo' lonely sot an' sigh,
Ez yohr mem'ry goze to 'fleck'in
Ub de olen days gone by.

How yohr ole home cures befo' yo'
Wif de fiah-place all erf'ame,
Ez it kindled an' enliven'd
Yo' into a joyful frame;
An' de scene at night when gaddahd
All eroun' yohr mammy sot,
Ez she tole yo' little stohries,
Allus chahms de little tot.

Seemz yo' hyeah de ole fo'ks singin',
An' dey voices ringin' clah,
Ez at night all knelt togeddah
Fo' to ax de mahstah's kyah,
To puzzurb dem fum de ebil
Spirits lurkin' far an' neer;
Keep dey minds all free fum feelin's
Soopahstishun an' fum feet.

How yo' long yo's wif de dahkies
Once mo' geddahd in de field,
When at night all in de moonlight,
Danced de ole Virginny reel;
To de plumpin' ub de banjos
An' de fiddle's sawin' choon,
An' de songs dat wuz trumphun'
To de ole plantayshun coon.

How yo' wish'd to 'gain libb obah
Dem days at yo' ole home spot,
Wif yo' frens dat's cross'd de ribbah,
Wuz again yo' happy lot;
But dem days hab gone fohebbah,
Nebah mo' will dey return,
When yo' sot an' 'fleck erbout 'em,
How yo' ole heart fo' dem yern.

Elliott Blaine Henderson

1907

Sad am de Night

mrbot — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 21:10:02 +0000

Sad am de night. Now de solemn tone
Creeps fum de erf to de heaben's throne,
Whah de stars an' moonbeams break forth bright,
Fo' to crown de worrul wif er sof', sweet, light.

Sad am de night. Now de lonesum, owl
Hoots 'cross de main to er fren'ly fowl,
An' de zephyrs sigh, and de cricket call
Fum de root an' branch and de vine-clad wall.

Sad am de night. How de heaben's pause,
Ez ef to ketch firmer hol de cause
Ub dis strange meanin' up whut am meant
Ub dis rapt silence an' sad content.

Sad am de night. Fum de sacred heights,
Whah gem sublime dem gran' strange lights,
I hyah de angels white robe throng
Now break forth saint in reverent song.

Sad am de night. Lurks er feelin' strange
Dat seemz to hah er boundless range.
It takes yo' back to olden days,
When fleet foot youth lent blissful rays.

Sad am de night. In letters bold
On night's great tablet am enscroll'd
Dat tells erf in er prophetic way
Ub dat eternal heabenly day.

Elliott Blaine Henderson

1907

The Deacon and the Owl

mrbot — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 21:10:03 +0000

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!
Cums fum de owl,
De mos' com'kul
Ub all de fowl;
He stahts dat choon
Jes' ez de night's
Er fallin' fum
De distant height.

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!
Dat's whut he say;
Hees 'wake at night
An' sleep at day;
All night erpun
His leery th'one
He sots an' makes
Dat debblish tone.

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!
He say dat thing,
An' at de same time
Bat his wing
Ez doh hees beckin'
To er coon
To cum an' watch
De blinkin' moon.

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!
Well, sah, by jim!
When he am sotin'
On er lim'
He sots dem great,
Big eyes er blink
Heed make de debbul
Shy an' shrink.

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!
He ax de frog,
He ax de howlin',
Bawkin' dog,
Ez sho' ez sin
De Lawd cundem,
He wan' to know
De whole ub dem.

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!
He woan' cum down
An' ax er coon
Erpun de groun';
He 'spec's er con
To clime er lim'
An' lak er fool
Den tawk to him.

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!
All th'ew de night
Dat onry cuss
Ez doh fo' spite
He ax dat quesshun—
Keeps dat shout
Until de moonlight
Fluddahs out.

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!
Dat onry owl
He ax de cats,
But dey jes' howl
An' tarn dey tails up,
Look'd erfright,
Den shuffled off
In de moonlight.

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!
Kawnsahn his skin,
He needs er littel.
Kunjoorin';
I'll use dat rahbit-
Foot, snake bone—
I bet heel leeb
De fo'ks erlone.

Elliott Blaine Henderson

1907

De Banjo an' de Fiddle

mrbot — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 21:10:02 +0000

De Banjo an' De Fiddle.
When de banjo am er plinkin'
An' de fiddle am er squeakin'
An' de ditties comes sweet,
An' de ditties come soft,
Jes' clah de shanty,
An' gimmee mo' room,
Den I'll dance an' caper
Fum de pantry to de loft.

Dey's one thing sho'
An' dey hain't no doubtin',
De banjo an' de fiddle
Gits er dahky soon to shoutin';
Hit gits into de marrow,
An' hit gits into de bone,
Hit sof'ens up er heart
Dat am harder den er stone!

Music fum de banjo,
Fum de ol' time fiddle,
Cunjers up yo' soul
Lak de 'liggun does de deacon.
Dey's nuffin' dat's sweetah,
Dat's got mo' charm,
Den er banjo dat's er plinkin'
An' er fiddle dat's er squeakin'!

How yo' foots does tickle!
How yo' heels does itch!
When de ditties am er chunein'
In de ol' time pitch!
I go plum happy an' de way i'se den
Er feelin' I could kick er big plank
Fum de ol' shack's ceilin!

Dat am de music
Dat de ol' fo'ks lak.
An' when dey got to dancin'
Seemed dey nebah would slack!
Dey capered lak sausage
On er red hot griddle
Till de strings bust'ed
Loose on de banjo an' de fiddle!

De oldes' hain't too ol'
Fo' to gibb dey foots er shakein'
When de banjo am er plinkin',
An' de fiddle am er squeakin'!
De saints forgits erbout dey 'liggun,
An' de preechah's sposs-choo-layshun,
An' dey dance yo' jiggs an' cockrills
Fas' ez lightnin' kalker-layshun!

I'se seed some was 'flickted
Wif de roomsticks an' de gout,
So 'fecketed wif de muddles
Coulden' tell er bass fum trout!
But jes stawt dem ditties,
Roomerticks an' gout would fly!
De music was so flunkshus
Sight would come back to dey eye!

Po' ol Uncle Rastus
Would drap bof his crutches!
Swing ol' Sistah Peacock,
Coat tail flyin' lak de breshes!
Good ol' Aunt Merryor
Would grunt lak de dickens;
Po' ol' Deacon Flypole
Would scramble lak fo' chickens!

Ef yo' sawed an' yo' fiddled
Till de chickens crowed fo' day,
Why dey woulen' think er secon'
Fo' to quit an' go erway;
It was jes' one 'roun' ub pleasure,
Fillin' to yo' heart's content!
Evahbody happy,
Evah minute dat was spent!

Elliott Blaine Henderson

1907

Uncle Peter's Over Confidence

mrbot — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 21:55:07 +0000

Well I hain't gwine to worry,
Ner I hain't gwine to frown!
De Wintah's dun flew'd,
An' de Spring's come eroun'.

Let's dance an' frolic
To de banjo an' de fiddle!
Come on, Sistah Susan,
Won't yo' join me jes' er little?

I know I hain't young,
Lak once erpon er time,
When I could hop er picket fencin',
Thought I'se doin' nuffin, fine.

But de soopleness an' life
Hain't lef' dis ol' frame yet!
So come. on, Sistah Susan,
Let's dance de fo'ks er set.

Doan' stan' back lak dat
An' er ac'in' shy dat way;
When de sun's er shinin'
Am de time to den make hay!

I hope dat yo' hain't 'barrassed;
Yo's too ol' de fo'ks all know;
Come on, sho' yo' feddahs—
Yo' might ketch er nuddah beau.

Yo' hain't done er thing,
Swing de ol' man 'roun' some mo'!
Dat's er li'l' better.,
Keep de middle ub de flo'!

Oh! Mah! Sistah Susan,
Hain't yo' gittin' mos' too fas'?
Hol' on jes' er momen'—
Gimme li'l time to gasp!

Hesh yo' mouf hyar ol' man,
Yo' jes' said I wasn't doin' er thing!
Doan' yo' dah to slacken
Drap yo' hol' erpon mah wing!

Yo' want to make er fool
Out ub me hyar befo' dis crowd?
Oh, no! Dis whole crowd knows
Dat ol' Aunt Susan am too proud!

Look hyar, Sistah Susan,
Bof ub us belongs to church;
Let's jes' stop er minute—
Thoo de Bible make er search.

Let's hab li'l prayer
Ef yo' doan' think yo' will mine,
De debbil's made us sin,
Step erside de Christian line.

Church? Why, look hyar, ol' man!
Whut de Lawd yo' tawkin' bout?
We nebbah had de liggun;
De debbil nebah was us out!

Yo' nat'ly laks to holler,
An' I nat'ly laks to shout!
Come on, ol' man, once mo'
Let us step er nuddah bout!

Elliott Blaine Henderson

1907