History & Politics

Aunt Chloe’s Politics

by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper 1825–1911

From Sketches of Southern Life (1891)

History & Politics

Of course, I don’t know very much
About these politics,
But I think that some who run ’em,
Do mighty ugly tricks.

I’ve seen ’em honey-fugle round,
And talk so awful sweet,
That you’d think them full of kindness,
As an egg is full of meat.

Now I don’t believe in looking
Honest people in the face,
And saying when you’re doing wrong,
That “I haven’t sold my race.”

When we want to school our children,
If the money isn’t there,
Whether black or white have took it,
The loss we all must share.

And this buying up each other
Is something worse than mean,
Though I thinks a heap of voting,
I go for voting clean.

MLA

Harper, Frances Ellen Watkins. “Aunt Chloe’s Politics.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harper/44/.

Chicago

Harper, Frances Ellen Watkins. “Aunt Chloe’s Politics.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harper/44/.

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