Living

De Hant!

by Freeman E. Miller 1864–1951

From Oklahoma Sunshine (1905)

Living

I.

De Hant he come en hollah f'um de honey-locus' tree:
"Ah'd thank yuh, Mistah Niggah, foh dat money yuh owe me!"
But Ah gib Mis' Sal a banjo, en a silky scarf toh Chloe,
En de cotton's sho'ly squandah'd en dat's all dis niggah know!

II.

De Hant he come en hollah f'um de bahn's ole gable deep:
"Whah's dat New Yaar Resolution dat Ah gib you-all toh keep?"
But Ah kep' it en Ah kep' it, twel ole Satan come erlong,
En dat New Yaar Resolution got a move on mighty strong!

III.

De Hant he come en hollah right above de cabin doo':
"What yuh done wif all dem good t'ings dat Ah tole yuh 'bout befo?"
En Ah dassent answeh nothin'! En de ole Hant stay en stay!
When dis niggah wuzzent lookin', all dem good things run away!

MLA

Miller, Freeman E. “De Hant!” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/miller_fe/190/.

Chicago

Miller, Freeman E. “De Hant!” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/miller_fe/190/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Freeman E. Miller