Classic Poem

M AMMY'S cullud baby sweet!
Hushaby! Close you' eye!
Kiss you' han's an' kiss you' feet!
Hushaby! Close you' eye!
Niggahs fat an' white folks skinny;
Angels roun' in ole Virginny,
Watchin' mammy's piccaninny.
Hushaby! Close you' eye!

Up an' down on mammy's knee you teetah,
A-cooin' in you' precious baby way,
You' mammy keepin' time unto de meetah,
While thoo de doo' she heahs de banjo play.
You needn' min' dat nasty buzzin' skeetah,
You' mammy gwine ter bresh away dat fly;
Dey bites de baby kaze dey know he's sweetah.
Hushaby! Close you' eye!

Kinky haih an' shiny face;
Hushaby! Close you' eye!
No white baby take you' place;
Hushaby! Close you' eye!
Mammy's glad you is a niggah,
Wouldn't change you' blessed figgah,
'Cept ter have you grow up biggah.
Hushaby! Close you' eye!

You was bo'n down in de South,
Hushaby! Close you' eye!
Wiv dat watermillion mouth;
Hushaby! Close you' eye!
Possum tink it drefful funny
You can't eat him; byme-by sonny,
Git you' possum teef, ma honey.
Hushaby! Close you' eye!

You done keep you' black eye shet,
Hushaby! Close you' eye!
Else you fin' out what you get;
Hushaby! Close you' eye!
What you want, you blessed sinnah?
Had you' breakfas', suppah, dinnah;
Want too much fo' young beginnah.
Hushaby! Close you' eye!