Advice to Girls / Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, 1868
Nay, do not blush! I only heard
You had a mind to marry;
I thought I’d speak a
friendly word,
So just one moment tarry.
Wed not a man whose merit lies
In things of outward show,
In raven hair, or
flashing eyes,
That please your fancy so.
But marry one who’s good and
kind,
And free from all pretense;
Who without a gifted
mind,
At least has common sense.
####30
Slave Marriage /Anonymous
Dark an’ stormy may
come de wedder;
I jines dis he-male
an’ dis she-male together.
Let none, but Him dat
makes de thunder,
Put dis he-male an’
dis she-male asunder.
I darefore’ nounce you
bofe de same.
Be good, go’long, an’
keep up yo’ name.
De broomstick’s
jumped, de worl’s not wide.
She’s now yo’
own. Salute yo’ bride!
Note:
if you have a problem with dialect try reading it out loud #####30
Dearest / Robert C. O.
Benjamin, 1883
I have loved thee
fond and truly,
In years that have passed away,
And I love thee now
as dearly
As upon our bridal day.
Yea, my heart is more thine own, dear,
For I know thy priceless worth;
Of all, thou art the
dearest,
On this beautiful, bright earth.
In time of fiercest struggling,
When cheerless was my life,
Thy, loving smile has
armed me
To conquer in the strife.
The voice of sweet encouragement
Has nerved my fainting soul.
And brought me sweet
contentment,
And saved and made me whole.
So I love thee fond and truly, dear,
And shall ever love thee so,
Until the messenger
of death
Has struck his fatal blow.
########30
Comments
Post a Comment