The poem
Nurse, won't you let him in? He's barkin' an' scratchen' the door, Makin' so dreffel a din I jest can't sleep any more; Out there in the dark an' the cold, Hark to him scrape an' whine, Breakin' his heart o' gold, Poor little pooch o' mine.
Nurse, I was sat in ma seat In front o' the barber shop, When there he was lickin' ma feet As if he would never stop; Then all of a sudden I see That dog-catcher moseyin' by: "Whose mongrel is that?" says he; "It's ma pedigree pup," says I.
Nurse, he was starved an' a-stray, But his eyes was plumbful o' trust. How could I turn him away? I throwed him a bit o' a crust, An' he choked as he gluped it up, Then down at ma feet he curled: Poor little pitiful pup! Hadn't a friend in the world.
Nurse, I was friendless too, So we was makin' a pair. I'm black as a cast-off shoe, But that li'le dog didn't care. He loved me as much as though Ma skin was pearly an' white: Somehow dogs seem to know When a man's heart's all right.
Nurse, we was thick as thieves; Nothin' could pry us apart, An' now to hear how he grieves Is twistin' a knife in ma heart. As I worked at ma shoe-shine stand He'd watch me wi' eyes o' love, A-wigglin' an' lickin' ma hand Like I was a god above.
Nurse, I sure had no luck That night o' the rain an' then fog; There was that thunderin' truck, And right in the way - ma dog. Oh, I was a fool, I fear; It's harder to think than to feel . . . I dashed in, flung the pup clear, But - I went under the wheel. . . .
Nurse, it's a-gittin' dark; Guess ma time's about up: Don't seem to hear him bark, Poor, broken-hearted pup! . . . Why, here he is, darn his skin! Lickin' ma face once more: How did the cuss get in? Musta' busted the door.
God, I'm an ol' black coon, But You ain't conscious o' race. I gotta be goin' soon, I'll be meetin' You face to face. I'se been sinful, dice an' hooch, But Lordy, before I die I'se a-prayin': "Be good to ma pooch" . . . That's all - little mutt, good-bye.
This is one of the rew poems by the author which is not found in his colected works. the SONGS OF A SUNLOVER group has enjoyed much less popularity than his SONGS OF A ROLLING STONE, or SONGS OF A RE CROSS MAN although these two titles dealt with things further away than the life of a poor shoe black. This poem is also interesting because it shows the humanity of a black man before it was socialy acceptible to…
Read the whole commentThis is one of the rew poems by the author which is not found in his colected works. the SONGS OF A SUNLOVER group has enjoyed much less popularity than his SONGS OF A ROLLING STONE, or SONGS OF A RE CROSS MAN although these two titles dealt with things further away than the life of a poor shoe black. This poem is also interesting because it shows the humanity of a black man before it was socialy acceptible to believe that there was a comon humanity between races.
His ascertion that the dog liked him as much as if he were white is interesting. The man is suprised by this. Blacks are, in the eyes of society, both unlovable and to some degree, lothesome. They can't be the one in power, so again, we see suprise that an animal could look up so one so downtrodden as a shoeshine.
An act of altruism, however, costs his life. Protecting something he loves, and that returns that love upsets the balance and must be paid for. And yet, the dog forgives him for even this.
Compare: "the Leather Medal" "touch the Button Nell" and "ths smoking Frog"not