Poetry Archives

Swing yo’ lady roun’ an’ roun’,
  Do de bes’ you know;
Mek yo’ bow an’ p’omenade
  Up an’ down de flo’;
Mek dat banjo hump huhse’f.
  Listen at huh talk:
Mastah gone to town to-night;
  ‘T ain’t no time to walk.

Lif yo’ feet an’ flutter thoo,
  Run, Miss Lucy, run;
Reckon you ‘ll be cotched an’ kissed
  ‘Fo’ de night is done.
You don’t need to be so proud—
  I’s a-watchin’ you,
An’ I’s layin’ lots o’ plans
  Fu’ to git you, too.

Moonlight on de cotton-fiel’
  Shinin’ sof an’ white,
Whippo’will a-tellin’ tales
  Out thaih in de night;
An’ yo’ cabin ’s ‘crost de lot:
  Run, Miss Lucy, run;
Reckon you ‘ll be cotched an’ kissed
  To’ de night is done.