Living
A Man of Words
From Negro Folk Rhymes (1922)
A man o' words an' not o' deeds,
Is lak a gyarden full o' weeds.
De weeds 'gin to grow
Lak a gyarden full o' snow.
De snow 'gin to fly
Lak a eagle in de sky.
De sky 'gin to roar
Lak a hammer on yō' door.
De door 'gin to crack
Lak a hick'ry on yō' back.
Yō' back 'gin to smart
Lak a knife in yō' heart.
Yō' heart 'gin to fail
Lak a boat widout a sail.
De boat 'gin to sink
Lak a bottle full o' ink.
Dat ink, it won't write
Neider black nor white.
Dat man o' words an' not o' deeds,
Is lak a gyarden full o' weeds.
Cite this poem
MLA
Thomas W. Talley (collector). “A Man of Words.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/322/.
Chicago
Thomas W. Talley (collector). “A Man of Words.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/322/.
Read this poem with the Codex →