Chilian Brilliance
It is a blessing to witness,
Such bravery and commitment to brilliance.
With the comraderie of expertise.
All eyes were on Chile.
Lifting trapped miners from two thousand feet,
Below the Earth's surface to emerge as if...
This had been scripted.
More than thirty miners had spent sixty nine days,
Without knowing whether or not,
Their lives would be saved.
And as people the world over,
Watched with anticipation...
There were those in 'progressive' countries,
Doing their best to avoid and explain economic devastation.
As TV monitors above and below on Chilian soil,
Were peering to observe...
A togetherness unfold a people unspoiled.
What does this show?
As this endeavor proved to all?
It showed a people who could accomplish miracles,
To solve and achieve what was shown to be unbelieved!
All eyes were on Chile.
Lifting trapped miners from two thousand feet,
Below the Earth's surface to emerge as if...
This had been scripted.
Again this shows what Chilian people already know,
With faith and trust...
No division of politics,
Or economic conflict with a racism exposed...
Were no where to be observed,
When humanity was placed as the number one priority.
And this activity has taught,
A lesson no one could have bought!
Dedicated:
To the people of Chile.
The miners who 'were' trapped.
Their families.
'What a wonderful lesson.'
-lsp-
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
You Cant Win
(from the wiz)
You cant win
You cant break even
And you cant get out of the game
People kee sayin
Things are gonna change
But they look us like
Youre stayin the same
You cant win
Get over your head
And you only have yourself to blame
You cant win chile
(you cant win chile)
You aint break even
And you cant get out of the game
You cant win
The world keeps movin
And youre standin far behind
People keep sayin
Thingsll get better
(just to ease your state of mind)
(so you lean back, and you smoke that smoke)
(and you drink your glass of wine)
So you cant win, chile
You cant break even
And you cant get out of the game
You cant win, you cant win no way
If your story stays the same
(you aint winnin),
No, no,
(but its nice to see you)
(Im awfully glad you came)
(better cool it cause
It aint abour losin)
Then the world has got no shame
You cant win, chile
You cant break even
You cant get out of the game
You cant win
You cant break even
Aint the way its supposed to be
(youll be spendin),
No, no
(your little bit of money)
While someone else rides for free
(learn your lesson), ooh,
(refuel your mind)
(before someone blows out your flame)
You cant win, chile. no!
You cant win
You cant win, chile. no!
You cant win
You cant win, chile. no!
You cant win
You cant win, chile. no!
You cant win
You cant win, chile
You cant break even
And you cant get out of the game
You cant get out of the game
You cant get out (ugh!) of the game
No, no...
song performed by by Michael Jackson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Chile's Miracle
CHILE'S MIRACLE
Miners thirty three, descended the mine,
In the Chilean Atacama desert at San Jose,
To fetch copper and gold so fine,
And to the occasion they happily rose.
In the bowels of the earth 700 metres below,
Lo! They were pinned half a mile underground,
And a rock of 70000 tonne gave them a blow,
Crashing on their tunnel with a huge sound.
The tunnel bore the brunt and kept them alive,
They were utterly scared; it was humid and hot;
On one half a spoon of salmon they did survive,
In the dark, only their helmet lights were their lot.
Despair and anguish gripped the men to pine,
They were trapped in a dark dank space;
Seventeen days passed on with no sign
Of contact with the world and human race.
In their desolate bleak cloud of isolation,
There came a streak of silver lining;
A tube they espied with tablets of dehydration,
Protein and high -calorie food for their dining.
Hope bloomed in the miners' hearts,
They endured days -on with solidarity,
The measly food were their delicious tarts,
They waited with fortitude and equanimity,
Up above, the entire world was in piquancy,
And an array of international talent played,
The Chilean Govt: , NASA, Japan's Space Agency,
And other companies, score, with them stayed.
The rescuers were in a hard torturous fix,
As expertise converged for the complex rescue,
It was a narrow twisting escape shaft-the Phoenix_
Painted as the Chilean flag, red, white and blue.
"Miners of Chile"_the refrain continuously echoed,
The world watched with bated breath, the cage,
Secular prayers from every country showed,
That the world was one large Global village.
The evacuation started- descended the capsule,
Kith and kin awaited in ‘Camp Hope"dazzled
Down there, the miners were calm and cool,
But on top, the mood was with nerves frazzled.
One by one the miners were arduously lifted,
Through the phoenix- like the bird's re-birth;
Taking 48 hours for all of them to be gifted,
Oh! The joy knew no bounds at their re-birth.
The last man Luis Urzua came up from hell,
The leader, who kept the miners all to-gether;
Not only the man who bore the ordeal well,
But the one who superbly coped with the weather.
The whole world with euphoria heaved a sigh,
As all the miners were safe and sound -back,
This ‘rescue mission' had indeed relieved, high,
Thanks to modern day technology's track!
This episode elaborates with magnificence,
How very dear and precious human lives are,
The Chilean Premier spent with munificence,
Subtly ventilating an end to terrorism and war.
Triumph of a never-say-die sprit, pure,
Designates this unique incident, so heartening;
Prayers to the Almighty are answered for sure,
Where all hearts in unison are imploring.
poem by Chandra Thiagarajan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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You Cant Win
(charlie smalls)
You cant win
You cant break even
And you cant get out of the game
People keep sayin
Things are gonna change
But they look just like theyre staying the same
You get in
Way over your head
And youve only got yourself to blame
You cant win, chile
You cant break even
And you cant get out of the game
You cant win
The world keeps movin
And youre standin far behind
People keep sayin
Things ll get better
Just to ease your state of mind
So you lay back
And you smoke that smoke
And you drink your glass of wine
You cant win, chile
You cant break even
And you cant get out of the game
You cant win
You cant win
No way if your story stays the same
You aint winnin
But its nice to see you
Im awfully glad you came
Better cool it
cause it aint about losin
Then the world has got no shame
You cant win, chile
You cant break even
And you cant get out of the game
You cant win
You cant win
You cant break even
Aint the way
Its supposed to be
Youll be spendin
Your little bit of money
While someone else ride free
Learn your lesson, refuel your mind
Before some turkey blows out your flame
song performed by by Diana Ross
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In Ballarat Where History Don't Fade
In Ballarat where history don't fade
They still honour the Eureka Stockade,
The miners who fought some of them even died
For their rights to them that for years they had been denied
The Town of Ballarat known far and wide
And the people there in their history take pride
Their ancestors fought against their oppressors laws
And even took up arms for their worthy cause.
The name of Peter Lalor they revere
He led the miners fight and conquered fear
But for his fame a huge price he did pay
He lost an arm on that historic day.
The miners were defeated in the bloody fight
They succumbed to the Government forces greater might
But they won their rights for which they went to war
And the story of their bravery travelled far.
In Ballarat where history was made
They still revere the men of the stockade
Who fought against the forces of the crown
Long years ago in their historic town.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Mother Of A Miners Child
She is my flower
And she blooms for the one who loves her best
The miners stop to watch as she walks
They know her love is not for sale
She will never fail me cause I know
I watch her grow
And the mother of a miners child
Waits for me beside the kitchen door
She is my light
In this place where the darkness never ends
Shell guide me where the tunnels twist and bend
Shes the only one who listens when I tell her
I got less than I can spend
She knows the pace
Oh mother of a miners child
Was away the coal dust from my face
When the night shifts done
Shell be waiting by the table when I come
Searchin for another dream to chase
Oh mother of a miners child
I know that you still think about the day
When well be movin on
Remember dear old daddy and
The promise that I made to carry on
Sometimes I smile
In the cage where the cables softly hum
Id curse that old straw boss to the bone
But the mother of a miners child
Is waiting for her paycheck to come home
Come saturday
And he is just a miners boy
I hope that he will find a better way
She is my flower
And she blooms for the one who loves her best
The miners stop to watch as she walks
They know her love is not for sale
She will never fail me cause I know
I watch her grow
And the mother of a miners child
Waits for me beside the kitchen door
song performed by by Gordon Lightfoot
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Chant Of The Cross-Bearing Child
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!
Hits 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 ch'ice 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, hits 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--
Do Cross-bearin' Chile!'
poem by James Whitcomb Riley
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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river in spate
flooded mine
trapped miners, buried alive
quote by by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Springhill Mining Disaster
Bono: like to...Id like to try a song that I think weve only played once before, so. this is a city that a...a lot of irish people came to this city, right? so this time...this irish...t
Irish people came as rock and roll band, okay? so...but this is a folk song. its like...the irish kinda hold america in a very special place because, for over a hundred years or more, irish have come over here to find work and find a future. and they brouught with them songs, old irish folk songs that became old american folk songs. and, I hope maybe wed leave behind some songs one day. this is a song written by peggy seeger. its a song...i wished Id heard this song on the raidio during the miners strike in england a few years ago. this is called springhill mining disaster.
In the town of springhill nova scotia
Down in the dark of the cumberland mine
Theres blood on the coal, and the miners lie
In roads that never saw sun or sky
Roads--
Bono: shut up for a second, will you? stop whistling cause Im not in the beatles, okay? its u2 here.
In the town of springhill
They dont sleep easy
Often the earth will tremble and roll
When the earth is restless
Miners die
Bone and blood is the price of coal
Bone and blood is the price of coal
Listen to the shouts of the black faced miner
Listen to the call of the rescue team
We have no water, light or bread
So were living on songs and hope instead
Living on songs and hope instead
In the town of springhill nova scotia
Down in the dark of the cumberland mine
Theres blood on the coal, and the miners lie
In roads that never saw sun or sky
Roads that never saw sun nor sky
In the town of springhill
Dont sleep easy
Often the earth will tremble and roll
When the earth is restless
Miners die
Bone and blood is the price of coal
Bone and blood is the price of coal
Bone and blood is the price of coal
Bono: thanks for your patience. thank you.
song performed by by U2
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Thousand Days
Ask me no questions and Ill tell you
Ill tell you no lies
When all is said and done
Does it really matter whos wrong or right
Dont ask me for a reason, I cant explain
Why we hurt one another again and again
As I lie bleeding here I still
I still reach for you
A thousand days
Have passed away
A thousand days
Were captured in her eyes
Your eyes are open now but you know
Its still hard to see inside
When action and intention
Are two seperate things
Now I somehow wish I could explain
Why we hurt each other again and again
Like someone on his dying breath
I still reach for you
A thousand days
Have passed away
A thousand days
Were captured in her eyes
Forever weve been
Trapped by our hearts
Trapped by our minds
Id like to leave
Id like to win at love
But I just cant let it go
And I just cant watch it slipping away
And I just cant let it go
And I just cant stand another minute
Maybe now someday our shattered lives
Will mend themselves again
But now a million miles away
I still wish I could
And though I somehow know, I cant explain
Why we hurt another again and again
Like someone on his dying breath
I still reach for you
song performed by by Offspring
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Another Zulu Dawn
Another Zulu Dawn
(The Battle for Orgreave Pit)
Cries of Zulu as miners rushed the barricades
Truncheons banging against riot shields
A nation at war with itself
Men of South Yorkshire,
United in the right to defend their pit
Maggie’s the Caesar of capitalism
Her legionnaires bought with 30 pieces of silver
Brought from the four corners of this septic isle
To take away another man’s right.
To destroy his culture, his freedom, his way of life
A democracy of road blocks and strip searches
England for the few
While miners live on Pots of rabbit stew
Demonised by the elected south,
Propaganda their stew.
Orgreave, now a place of forgotten ghosts
And Coal the driver of this great economic power
All gone
Memories, now overwhelmed by the banks and the city
But power is fleeting, a house of cards
For they too have felt the wind of recession
So beware the hurricane, or you too might become extinct
And what Caesar will save you.
Footnote to this poem
This poem is about the Miners’ Strike, June 18th 1984
As a young lad and bizarre as it may seem I played in a 5 a side football match at Orgreave Pit on this day.
My way was blocked by 1000s of miners and a cordon of Police blocking our access with barriers of Riot Shields.
We made our way to the front and asked a Policeman to let us through. To my amazement the cordon opened and we were let through.
Behind us was a surge of Miners all shouting Zulu. It must have been a rallying call, for me it was a magnificent site, a place of community rebellion, a place to be proud of. In response the Police beat their shields with truncheons. The sounds were deafening,
From the sides mounted police horses galloped into the crowd causing miners to fall and split. This was war without guns. The Miners regrouped and the Cry of Zulu saw miners coming over fields and down the lane charging at the barricade of shields, the sounds of the clashes were unbelievable. At the end of the day I was coming home there were coaches of police holding up their wage packets to the window at the remnants of miners now left, a final insult to the miners. None of this was reported at the time.
What the general public did not know was the government intervention on reporting the struggle. Many incidents were deliberately withheld from the public. Never before in the history of this country have the forces of State been used on its own people to implement a policy by a minority. An account of this battle can be found on Wikipedia. In light of recent press spying and phone tapping, one can see that the seeds of such practices were sewn here at Orgreave. On a more happy memory the rock singer Bruce Springsteen was playing his concert in Sheffield. He donated free tickets to all the striking miners and gave £50,000 to the striker’s fund, as he came from a mining family. A reflection of the strong community links by miners throughout the world.
poem by Steven Cooke
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Trapped In A Box
Trapped in a box of tremendous size
It distorts my vision, it closes my eyes
Attracts filthy flies and pollutes in the skies
Sucks up our lives and proliferates lies
Trapped in a box
Trapped in a box, four walls as sky
Got a screen for a window about two feet wide
My mind rides and slides as my circuits are fried
No room for thought, use the box as my guide
Trapped in a box
Trapped in a box
Watch the world as it flocks
To lifes paradox
Were all trapped in a box
Trapped in a box Im not alone
I know of others with a box as their home
Light only enters from a crack or a hole
This is not enough for a human to grow
Trapped in a box
Chorus: always wanting a different view
Instant gratification for you
Reality gone in a single click
Just hope that that switch wont stick
Trapped in a box my life becomes void
All I thought for myself is now destroyed
Controlling my mind, what to eat, what to buy
Sublinal rules: how to live, how to die
Trapped in a box
song performed by by Gwen Stefani
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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All too often miners, and indeed other trade unionists, underestimate the economic strength they have.
quote by Arthur Scargill
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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People from a world corner
The worst poverty in the world
The worst discrimination in the world
While people thinking about Global Warming
Corner people thinking how to survive
Corner people struggling one day by one day
While people living in the rocket age
Corner people walking miles to miles for one day survive
Corner people surprising whenever a plane is flying
While people thinking about living on other planets
Corner people crying to get a four feet square area
Corner people watering their blood for a four feet squares area
While people thinking about homosexual marriage
Corner people giving their lives for saving their children
Corner people growing never ever seeing their parents
While people thinking about which food is the best in the world
Corner people running thousand miles to get a few rice
Corner people dying lack of food and water
While people thinking about legalization of prostitution
Corner people not knowing what is the law
Corner people never seeing decided by a just justice
Corner people are not people!
Corner people are not from this world!
I would wonder............
poem by Zaw Myat Htoo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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But, we have had the debate in our country now for a number of years as to whether or not free trade agreements are good for economic growth and economic opportunity in creating jobs and lifting people out of poverty.
quote by Donald Evans
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Highway Chile
Yeah, his guitar slung across his back
His dusty boots is his cadillac
Flamin hair just a blowin in the wind
Aint seen a bed in so long its a sin
He left home when he was seventeen
The rest of the world he had longed to see
But everybody knows the boss
A rolling stone who gathers no moss
But youd probably call him a tramp
But it goes a little deeper than that
Hes a highway chile, yeah
Now some people say he had a girl back home
Who messed around and did him pretty wrong
They tell me it kinda hurt him bad
Kinda made him feel pretty sad
I couldnt say what went through his mind
Anyway, he left the world behind
But everybody knows the same old story,
In love and war you cant lose in glory
Now youd probably call him a tramp
But I know it goes a little deeper than that
Hes a highway chile
Walk on brother, yeah
One more brother
His old guitar slung across his back
His dusty boots is his cadillac
Flamin hair just a blowin in the wind
Aint seen a bed in so long its a sin
Now you may call him a tramp
But I know it goes a little deeper than that
Hes a highway chile
Walk on brother
Dont let no one stop you
Highway chile
Yeah yeah yeah
Highway chile
Go on down the highway
Highway chile
Yeah yeah yeah
Highway chile
song performed by by Jimi Hendrix
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Story Of OVO
(Only available on some editions)
A long time ago, in a far away land
Theo was the man who learned to understand
The riches of the earth
And all that it was worth
The first man that ever tried to stand with his own plan
Now this man was all about the wind rain and trees
He knew that it would take care of all of his families
Now Ion was the son who spent his nights and days
Looking for all kinds of ways to get his father's praise
In all daddy's ways he just wanted to impress
Make it faster, stronger is what he tried to stress
Sofia was the girl
Living in her own world
She found love and joy with a young sky boy
Sky boys were seen as less to the rest
So it would seem
Sofia went into the woods to daydream
With love in her eyes
Her own father would despise
Her love for the young sky boy he would destroy
Feet in the earth
Heads in the sky
We watch the world go by
Feet in the earth
Heads in the sky
We watch as life goes by
When Theo was gone, his son Ion took the power
And in his daddy's name, he built the biggest strongest tower
The earth people and sky people divided by machines
And the ones who had nothing were the ones who had the wings
The sky boy just wanted everything to be equal
From full-time lover to now fighting for his people
Now Beth was the mom
Who really loved to weave
She couldn't believe her own son would decieve
The sky people got hungry and their welfare was ignored
She let them in the tower and the bloody battle roared
Down came iron and the tower fell as well
The dark days were over and the sky people's hell
Feet in the earth
Heads in the sky
We watch the world go by
Feet in the
song performed by by Peter Gabriel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Voodoo Chile Slight Return
Well, I stand up next to a mountain
And I chop it down with the edge of my hand.
Well, I stand up next to a mountain,
Chop it down with the edge of my hand.
Well, I pick up all the pieces and make an island,
Might even raise just a little sand.
cause Im a voodoo chile,
Lord knows Im a voodoo chile, baby.
I didnt mean to take up all your sweet time,
Ill give it right back to you one of these days.
I said I didnt mean to take up all your sweet time,
Ill give it right back one of these days.
And if I dont meet you no more in this world
Then ill, Ill meet you in the next one and dont be late, dont be late.
cause Im a voodoo chile, voodoo chile,
Lord knows Im a voodoo chile, hey hey hey.
Im a voodoo chile, baby.
song performed by by Jimi Hendrix
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hetuaght me a lesson
He said he was going to
teach me a lesson.
I needed to no some things.
The lesson was rape.
But he said it was a game.
He said I had to learn sometime.
When he'd finished.
He smiled and said.
This happens to
Stupid little girls
All the time.
I was only teaching you a lesson.
If it was a lesson to learn
It was one well tuaght.
Be weary of who you trust.
For you never can
Read people like a book.
If you could
The world would be safe.
It was a lesson hard learned.
One that still remains today.
Its a lesson that effects me still.
I only wish I could
Of turned and run.
Only when your young
Like that you dont
Really understand.
If I did
I would of ran.
A thousand miles a way.
Out of reach.
And out of harms way.
poem by Amy Louise Kerswell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Corruption Reigns Supreme
Politicians and union chiefs,
Are really so alike,
High salaries and pension schemes,
They never go on strike.
They're rewarded when they make a mess,
The same applies when they fail,
Whereas we'd be sacked immediately,
Then thrown into jail.
Their policies are much the same,
In Immorality they are entwined,
They want the plebs under their thumb,
In corruption they are enshrined.
They're paid for by the working class,
They always get their way,
Yet when it comes to all their perks,
We do not have a say.
When we hit recession,
For us redundancy will lurk,
While they retain their earnings,
They forever remain in work.
Take the miners leader,
He was pretty deft,
He's the leader of a union,
Where there are no miners left.
Trade unions and the government,
Have an affiliation,
You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours,
It's a truly sick creation.
You often find that union chiefs,
End up as politicians,
The job is very much the same,
Dictating our conditions.
If they were truly competent people,
With problems we would not be beset,
But throughout the world these wasters,
Have saddled us with massive debt.
They must be forced to recognise,
That we've all had enough,
If they had to live as we do,
They would find it really tough.
The workers of the modern world,
Really need to unite,
Strip these people of all their power,
Then push them out of sight.
Maybe then we could rid ourselves,
Of our lowly self esteem,
But the problem is we're far too weak,
That's Why,
'' Corruption Reigns Supreme ''
Possession
Whose little lady is you, chile,
Whose little gal is you?
What's de use o' kiver'n up yo' face?
Chile, dat ain't de way to do.
Lemme see yo' little eyes,
Tek yo' little han's down nice,
Lawd, you wuff a million bills,
Huh uh, chile, dat ain't yo' price.
Honey, de money ain't been made
Dat dey could pay fu' you;
'T ain't no use a-biddin'; you too high
Fu' de riches' Jap er Jew.
Lemme see you smilin' now,
How dem teef o' yo'n do shine,
An' de t'ing dat meks me laff
Is dat all o' you is mine.
How 's I gwine to tell you how I feel,
How's I gwine to weigh yo' wuff?
Oh, you sholy is de sweetes' t'ing
Walkin' on dis blessed earf.
Possum is de sweetes' meat,
Cidah is the nices' drink,
But my little lady-bird
Is de bes' of all, I t'ink.
Talk erbout 'uligion he'pin' folks
All thoo de way o' life,
Gin de res' 'uligion, des' gin me
You, my little lady-wife.
Den de days kin come all ha'd,
Den de nights kin come all black,
Des' you tek me by de han',
An' I'll stumble on de track.
Stumble on de way to Gawd, my chile,
Stumble on, an' mebbe fall;
But I'll keep a-trottin', while you lead on,
Pickin' an' a-trottin', dat's all.
Hol' me mighty tight, dough, chile,
Fu' hit's rough an' rocky lan',
Heaben 's at de en', I know,
So I's leanin' on yo' han'.
poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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