A Plantation Portrait
Hain’t you see my Mandy Lou,Is it true?Whaih you been f’om day to day,Whaih, I say?Dat you say you nevah seenDis hyeah queenWalkin’ roun’ f’om fiel’ to streetSmilin’ sweet?
Slendah ez a saplin’ tree;Seems to meWen de win’ blow f’om de bayShe jes’ swayLak de reg’lar saplin’ doEf hit’s grewStraight an’ graceful, ‘dout a limb,Sweet an’ slim.
Browner den de frush’s wing,An’ she singLak he mek his wa’ble ringIn de spring;But she sholy beat de frush,Hyeah me, hush:Wen she sing, huh teef kin showWhite ez snow.
Eyes ez big an’ roun’ an’ brightEz de lightWhut de moon gives in de primeHarvest time.An’ huh haih a woolly skein,Black an’ plain.Hol’s you wid a natchul twis’Close to bliss.
Tendah han’s dat mek yo’ ownFeel lak stone;Easy steppin’, blessid feet,Small an’ sweet.Hain’t you seen my Mandy Lou,Is it true?Look at huh befo’ she’s gone,Den pass on!