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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THANKSGIBBIN' IN OLE VIRGINNY by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING

First Line: TER-DAY'S THANKSGIBBIN'
Last Line: DE SHORT STRAW DONE DRAW DE LITTLE GUINEA HEN.
Subject(s): HOLIDAYS; HUNGER; POVERTY; THANKSGIVING DAY;

TER-DAY'S Thanksgibbin',
En good lan'er libbin',
Go gib de old hoss er double mess o' co'n.
Ole pot bubble
Possum's in trouble,
An' we's gwine ter feas' upon 'im sho's yo' bo'n.
Nigger wid de long straw he git de possum;
Nigger wid de nex' straw de jack rabbit; den
Nigger wid de nex' one he gets de turkey,
But de short straw done draw de little Guinea hen.
De little speckle' hen,
De little Guinea hen,
Little pickaninny has ter eat de Guinea hen.

Ter-day's Thanksgibbin',
Good lan'er libbin'.
Po' ole beggah-man comes knockin' at de do';
Gib 'im off yo' table
Long as yo' is able,
Kase poverty an' hunger may sometime come to yo'.
Darky wid de long straw he git de possum,
Darky wid de nex' straw de jack rabbit; den
Darky wid de nex' one he git de turkey,
But de short straw done draw de little Guinea hen.
De little speckle' hen,
De little Guinea hen,
De short straw done draw de little Guinea hen.



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