A Southern Lullaby

A poem by Virna Sheard

Little honey baby, shet yo' eyes up tight; -
(Shadow-man is comin' from de moon!) -
You's as sweet as roses if dey is so pink an white;
(Shadow-man '11 get here mighty soon.)

Little honey baby, keep yo' footses still! -
(Rocky-bye, oh, rocky, rocky-bye!)
Hush yo' now, an listen to dat lonesome whippo'-will;
Don't yo' fix yo' lip an start to cry.

Little honey baby, stop dat winkin' quick!;
(Hear de hoot-owl in de cotton-wood!)
Yess - I sees yo' eyes adoin' dat dere triflin' trick -
(He gets chillun if dey isn't good.)

Little honey baby, what yo' think yo' see? -
(Sister keep on climbin' to de sky - )
Dat's a June bug - it aint got no stinger, lak a bee -
(Reach de glory city by an by.)

Little honey baby, what yo' skeery at? -
(Go down, Moses - down to Phar-e-oh,) -
No - dat isn't nuffin but a furry fly-round bat; -
(Say, he'd betta let dose people go.)

Little honey baby, yo' is all ma own, -
Deed yo' is. - Yes, - dat's a fia-fly; -
If I didn't hab yo' - reckon I'd be all alone;
(Rocky-bye - oh, rocky, rocky-bye.)

Little honey baby, shet yo' eyes up tight; -
(Shadow man is comin' from de moon,)
You's as sweet as roses, if dey is so pink and white;
(Shadow-man '11 get here mighty soon.)


The lines in brackets are supposed to be sung or chanted.
The Southern "Mammy" seldom sang a song through, but interladed it with comments. - V.S.