Plantation echoes — Background and Themes

Transcriber’s Note: Henderson’s writing captures African American dialect of his time, but the poems contain slang words and racial stereotypes that the modern reader is likely to find offensive.

A COLLECTION _of_ ORIGINAL NEGRO DIALECT POEMS

_By_ ELLIOTT BLAINE HENDERSON

COLUMBUS, OHIO PRESS OF F. J. HEER 1904

Entered According to Act of Congress in the year 1904

In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO

HOWARD BURBA L. WALTER HARRISON PROF. L. M. LAYTON T. J. McCORMICK OSMAN C. HOOPER

Literary Editor of the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio.

The music of the American negro, the fresh and spontaneous expression of a good and care-free heart, has long been one of the most pleasing features of American life. It is human nature in its first vocal garb—original and unique, often humorous and always true to the sentiment of the singer. If there ever was an illustration of the close relationship between language and thought, it is this.

What is true of the melodies of the negro as developed in the simple existence on the plantation is also true of that other form of singing, verse-making. Among the negroes there have sprung up a number of exponents of the wisdom, wit and humor of the race. They have caught the spirit of others—the humble philosophers of their kind—and they have employed the dialect to reproduce the thought in all its quaintness and originality. One of the most notable of these exponents or interpreters is an Ohio negro, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, who has taken high rank among the poets of the day. Another is Elliott Blaine Henderson, also a son of Ohio, whose first volume of verse is herewith presented.

In much that Mr. Henderson here presents, there is the rush of expression and the jingle of words that are so characteristic of the negro. There is also humor and there is sentiment, and always that other quality which makes verse in these days readable—good cheer.

He who correctly interprets the spirit of his race serves a good cause, and it is believed that Mr. Henderson will be found to have succeeded in his undertaking to make his people better and more widely understood.

E. G. BURKHAM, _Editor of the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio_.

When the Moon Hangs Low 9

Seems Dey’s No Place 10

Good Bye, Honey, Good Bye 12

Whut We Gwine To Do 14

Kaze I kno’ I Kain’t Stop 16

Dahky Whut Yo’ Doin? 18

When De Fiah Am Kindlin’ Hot 20

When De Summah’s Dun Cum 23

The Coon’s Serenade 24

Blissful Anticipations 25

Pawson Johnson At Dinner 27

Go ’Way, Mah Honey 28

Brer Possum Declines 30

I Hain’t Foolin’ Honey 31

A Profuse Encomium 34

Peepin’ Th’ew De Husk 35

Axin’ Coon Cum Obeah 38

Kase De Sun Am Sinkin’ 41

Soft Falls The Night 43

Git On Board, Chillun 44

Uncle Ned An’ De Mockin’ Bird 46

Sambo’s Rain Philosophy 50

Jes’ Keep Er Lookin’ Up 51

Wished I’d Rode Mah Hoss 53

Eggs! Eggs!! Eggs!!! 54

It Am De Possum Time 55

Stick To Your Race 57

Is Yo’ Lonesum, Honey? 64

Larn To He’p Yo’se’f 64

Courtin’ O’ De Phone 66

Lonesum Valley Christmas Tree 68

Yes, Wees Got Er Flag 72

Dey’s Er Col’ Wave Breshin’ Nigh 77

The Passing Of Night 82

The Exstacy of Uncle Joe 85

Climin’ Up De Hill 88

The Gallant Blacks of San Juan Hill 93

WHEN THE MOON HANGS LOW.

A straying chicken Lost from home Bewildered, finds Itself a-roam. And innocently Stalks the ground, Not dreaming That a coon’s around.

As evening’s shadows Gently fall, The chicken, lonesome, Gives a call. A coon steals out Soft in the night, To catch him For his appetite.

The night is still! The moon is low! Not e’en a zephyr Seems to blow. The coon with sack Clutched in his hand, Moves silently Across the land.

The chicken gives Another squawk! The coon has got her Like a hawk. The moon now breaks Forth into light, The coon and chicken’s Out of sight.

SEEMS DEY’S NO PLACE.

Well er coon kin go to kollege Git his head chucked full o’ knowledge, Till he knows ez much ez Solomon de wise. He kin study an’ summize, Count de stars up in de skies, Seems dey’s no place Fo’ de eddeekayted coon.

Tawk erbout yo’ eddeekayshun Gittin’ in de cullahd nayshun, Gittin’ “lighten” in de head an’ sich ez dat, Yo’ kin larn sah, till yo’ hat On yo’ head woan’ fit exzac’, Seems dey’s no place Fo’ de eddeekayted coon.

Eddeekayshun am all right Ef er coon kin git er sight ’Stead o’ makin’ bread an’ buttah by de hoe, He kood entah any do’ Whah he’s qualified to go. Seems dey’s no place Fo’ de eddeekayted coon.