Mythology & Folklore
Little Boy Who Couldn't Count Seven
From Negro Folk Rhymes (1922)
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count one.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought it great big fun.
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count two.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought 'e 'us gwine through.
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count three.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought de Niggers 'us free.
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count fō'.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e jumped out on de flō'.
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count five.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought de dead alive.
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count six.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e never did git fix!
Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count seben.
Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought he's gwine to Heaben!
Cite this poem
MLA
Thomas W. Talley (collector). “Little Boy Who Couldn't Count Seven.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/239/.
Chicago
Thomas W. Talley (collector). “Little Boy Who Couldn't Count Seven.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/239/.
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