 | Ha'nts |  |
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VIII “Ha'nts”
Chil', don' tell me dey ain't no ha'nts,
'Ca'se I 's done 'n' seed 'em!
'N' yo' father 'n' mother 'n' uncles 'n' a'nts
Has all talked wid me some;
'N' dey all b'liebed in ghoses, too—
'N' wisah people 'at I 's knew.
Young dahkies nevah wuz lak you
Ontwel arter freedom.
'Ca'se I 's done 'n' seed 'em!
'N' yo' father 'n' mother 'n' uncles 'n' a'nts
Has all talked wid me some;
'N' dey all b'liebed in ghoses, too—
'N' wisah people 'at I 's knew.
Young dahkies nevah wuz lak you
Ontwel arter freedom.
Should n't b'liebe in ha'nts no mo'?
Hab yo' l'arnin' spiled you?
De Good Book speaks ob sich, I 'm sho,
You po', ign'ant chil', you.
Don' “a'nty” me! I ain't no a'nt
To folks 'at tells me 'at dey can't
Beliebe ma wo'd erbout a ha'nt.
Ol' Nick 's done beguiled you!
Hab yo' l'arnin' spiled you?
De Good Book speaks ob sich, I 'm sho,
You po', ign'ant chil', you.
Don' “a'nty” me! I ain't no a'nt
To folks 'at tells me 'at dey can't
Beliebe ma wo'd erbout a ha'nt.
Ol' Nick 's done beguiled you!
Ma chil', dey 's ha'nts uz sho 's you bo'n!
Ast ol' Uncle Sid White,
Ast Deacon Brown, er Fiddlah John.
You ain't nevah did right.
Jes go to some ol' house, er down
To 'at dahk holler back o' town,
Er to er ol' mill-pond, er roun'
Some chu'ch-yahd, 'bout midnight.
Ast ol' Uncle Sid White,
Ast Deacon Brown, er Fiddlah John.
You ain't nevah did right.
Jes go to some ol' house, er down
To 'at dahk holler back o' town,
Er to er ol' mill-pond, er roun'
Some chu'ch-yahd, 'bout midnight.
Down whah 'Lige Smif shot Jim Gant
At de celebration,
Once I seed de wo'ses' ha'nt
In de whole creation!
I wuz passin' dah at night,
'N' hyah come somepin' funny—white,
Floatin' in de dim moonlight!
Lawd! I 'lahmed de nation!
At de celebration,
Once I seed de wo'ses' ha'nt
In de whole creation!
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'N' hyah come somepin' funny—white,
Floatin' in de dim moonlight!
Lawd! I 'lahmed de nation!
'Neaf 'at daid pine to de right
'S whah I seed it, sonny;
Would n't pass dah in de night
Foh no kin' o' money!
Whut you say? You 's been dah, son,
'N' hain't seed nothin', 'n' nevah run?
Well, ha'nts don' 'pear to evah one—
Min', I tell you, honey!
'S whah I seed it, sonny;
Would n't pass dah in de night
Foh no kin' o' money!
Whut you say? You 's been dah, son,
'N' hain't seed nothin', 'n' nevah run?
Well, ha'nts don' 'pear to evah one—
Min', I tell you, honey!
You 's got to hab de gif', er be
De sebenth son er daughter,
'R else b'liebe in ha'nts, to see
Things—lak people oughter.
Chil', go on 'way 'n' sabe yo' breaf!
Whut! you 's a “sebenth son” yo'se'f?
Cleah out! 'r I 'll scal' you plumb to deaf
Wid dis hyah pot o' wortah!
De sebenth son er daughter,
'R else b'liebe in ha'nts, to see
Things—lak people oughter.
Chil', go on 'way 'n' sabe yo' breaf!
Whut! you 's a “sebenth son” yo'se'f?
Cleah out! 'r I 'll scal' you plumb to deaf
Wid dis hyah pot o' wortah!
James D. Corrothers.
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