Mythology & Folklore
Little Sleeping Negroes
From Negro Folk Rhymes (1922)
Mythology & Folklore
One liddle Nigger a-lyin' in de bed;
His eyes shet an' still, lak he been dead.
Two liddle Niggers a-lyin' in de bed;
A-snorin' an' a-dreamin' of a table spread.
Three liddle Niggers a-lyin' in de bed;
Deir heels cracked open lak shorten' bread.
Four liddle Niggers a-lyin' in de bed;
Dey'd better hop out, if dey wants to git fed!
Cite this poem
MLA
Thomas W. Talley (collector). “Little Sleeping Negroes.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/295/.
Chicago
Thomas W. Talley (collector). “Little Sleeping Negroes.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/295/.
Read this poem with the Codex →