Living

Self-Control

by Thomas W. Talley (collector) 1870–1952

From Negro Folk Rhymes (1922)

Living

Befo' you says dat ugly word,
You stop an' count ten.
Den if you wants to say dat word,
Begin an' count again.

Don't have a tongue tied in de middle,
An' loose frum en' to en'.
You mus' think twice, den speak once;
Dat donkey cain't count ten.

MLA

Thomas W. Talley (collector). “Self-Control.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/331/.

Chicago

Thomas W. Talley (collector). “Self-Control.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/331/.

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