James Ephraim McGirt Poems

Hit Title Date Added
21.
My Song

Why was I born if this ends all,
All that I'll ever be;
To feel a spirit that's divine,
No chance to let it free.
...

22.
My Soul’s At Rest

J's 'bout d'hk I com' hom' ploddin',
Tired and ro'sted from de sun.
Tho' I wo'k f'om mo'nin' early,
Seems m' tas' ez never don
...

23.
No Use In Signs (Second Version)

Der's no use bein' scared o' cungers,
An' lettin' black cats turn you back,
You jus' go on about your business,
...

24.
Nothing To Do

The fields are white;
The laborers are few;
Yet say the idle:
There's nothing to do.
...

25.
Ode To Conscience

Oh; gently conscience thou scourgest well!
Would'st thou give ease if I should tell,
The secret crime o'er which I weep,
...

26.
A Sailor’s Departure

My dearest child, I have no wealth to give you,
No ring of gold to you can I impart;
Going, yet why should going grieve you?
...

27.
A Drunken A.B.

One cold wet winter evening
I was hurrying to my home,
I passed a drunkard lying in the mire;
The sleet was falling fastly,
...

28.
A Lecture

Now I was gwine ter make er speech;
I see yer al begin to frown;
Dat what I say erbout yer darkies,
Yer tri ter hold each udder down.
...

29.
A Mystery

I do not know the ocean's song,
Or what the brooklets say;
At eve I sit and listen long,
I cannot learn their lay.
...

30.
A Quest

Tell me, my soul, tell me, I pine to know,
Some future day, known as the harvest time!
Am I to reap from all the grain I sow,
...

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