Social Commentaries

Promises of Freedom

by Thomas W. Talley (collector) 1870–1952

From Negro Folk Rhymes (1922)

Social Commentaries

My ole Mistiss promise me,
W'en she died, she'd set me free.
She lived so long dat 'er head got bal',
An' she give out'n de notion a dyin' at all.

My ole Mistiss say to me:
"Sambo, I'se gwine ter set you free."
But w'en dat head git slick an' bal',
De Lawd couldn' a' killed 'er wid a big green maul.

My ole Mistiss never die,
Wid 'er nose all hooked an' skin all dry.
But my ole Miss, she's somehow gone,
An' she lef' "Uncle Sambo" a-hillin' up co'n.

Ole Mosser lakwise promise me,
W'en he died, he'd set me free.
But ole Mosser go an' make his Will
Fer to leave me a-plowin' ole Beck still.

Yes, my ole Mosser promise me;
But "his papers" didn' leave me free.
A dose of pizen he'ped 'im along.
May de Devil preach 'is fūner'l song.

MLA

Thomas W. Talley (collector). “Promises of Freedom.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/34/.

Chicago

Thomas W. Talley (collector). “Promises of Freedom.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/talley/34/.

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