Textarchiv - Raymond Garfield Dandridge

Decreed

mrbot — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 21:10:07 +0000

Indirectly, out of Africa you came
By His decree; 'twas no miscarried chance
That bade you face despoilers of His name,
Upon the red-run battle fields of France.

Just so, each word, each jot, and every tittle
That He has ever promised or decreed,
No matter how majestic or how little,
Shall follow in the foot steps of His lead.

Raymond Garfield Dandridge

1920

A Disagreement

mrbot — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 21:10:10 +0000

You say "That man was made to mourn."
Would you have me believe it—
Believe earth holds no recompense
Until death bids me leave it—
Believe there is but misery
And toil on toil, in store for me?

No. I do not, cannot believe,
While heaven smiles above me,
That I was doom'd on earth to mourn
With naught to cheer or love me.
Wise Bard, although your dirge rings true,
I do not agree with you.

Raymond Garfield Dandridge

1920

Arise

mrbot — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 21:10:02 +0000

Arise! ye humble undertrodden wight,
Behold, at edge of yonder east,
The blazing Sun of Hope adawn!
Think ye not thou needst ever be
The hireling, or an o'er lord's slave;
For He who makes all men, also made thee,
Of sinew, brain, and bone,
And bade thee cleave a bit of earth
Whereon to stand alone.

Raymond Garfield Dandridge

1920

One Word

mrbot — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 21:10:02 +0000

If I had mighty wings to fly,
I d soar aloft in youder sky,
And paint with fire, to never die,
One word—Mother!

Then far out on the desert waste,
In glist'ning sands again I'd trace,
So deep that naught could e'er erase,
One word—Mother!

Raymond Garfield Dandridge

1920

A Resolution

mrbot — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 21:10:10 +0000

Mah ruddah's brokin, an' mah sail
Wen' ovah bode, in las' night's gale;
Mah bunkah's empty, steam am low,
Ise driftin' wid de undah tow.

Mah neighbah's bark goes skippin' by,
Wid breeze fat sail, 'near clear blue sky;
Seems lak de bes' ob bes' am his,
W'ile mine is all de wust whut is.

But mebbe sumthin', I cain't see,
Maiks mah neighbah envy me:
Purhaps I w'u'd hab differn views
Ef I wuz stan'in' in his shoes.

So, 'ste'd ob grumblin' 'bout mah lot,
I'll do mah bes' wid whut I got;
Kaze He doan ast dat eny man
Do bettah dan de bes' he can.

Raymond Garfield Dandridge

1920

Days

mrbot — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 21:10:10 +0000

Do tell me, where is yesterday?
All-knowing Sage, I dare thee say
Other than it has been cast
Into the maelstrom of the past.

And tell me of to-morrow, Sage,
If thou canst read an unturn'd page,
And, also, something of to-day
That was to-morrow, yesterday.

Raymond Garfield Dandridge

1920

Hahd Cidah

mrbot — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 21:10:10 +0000

Wondah whut on earf tiz ails me,
Seems I see mo' outlan'ish t'ings,
Sech ez wagons pullin' hosses,
An' red mens, wid horns an' wings.
Mussy! how dese steps do tremble,
Dey's jes ez loose ez dey kin be,
An' dat do'-knob thinks it's clevah
Playin' "hide an' seek" wid me.

Dar's a dashah in mah stumick,
Churnin', flip! flop! up an' down:
Mah po' achin' head am spinnin',
Whoop-pee-la-la! roun' an' roun'.
Tongue dun swole up thick ez two tongues:
Goo' Lawd! whut is I to do?
'Speck Ise got de eppazutic,
Or dat ah new fangled "Flu."

I is sartin tizent "Goofoo,"
Caze I ain' ett no strangah's grub,
An' Ise bin nowhar, 'cept callin'
On mah hi brown Lady Lub.
We set coatin', me an' Idah,
'Near de arbah, in her yahd,
Holdin' han's an' sippin' cidah
Frum a brown jug, labeled "Hahd."

Raymond Garfield Dandridge

1920

Eternity

mrbot — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 21:10:11 +0000

Vast realm beyond the gate of death,
Where craven scavengers and kings,
Alike, with passing final breath,
Relinquish claim to earthly things.

Endless, unexplored expanse,
Where souls, bereft of mortal clay,
Wander at will, in peace, perchance—
Perchance in strife, who dare would say?

Raymond Garfield Dandridge

1920

Censored

mrbot — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 21:10:11 +0000

My Harvah rit me week fo' las',
Dat is, dat's w'en I got it;
He sed, he hardly had de time
'Tween shot an' shell to jot it;
An' dat he had a rail bad cole,
But it wuz gettin' bettah.
Shucks! I disremembah ha'f he rit,
So I'll jes' read his lettah.

"Deah Darlin' Mine: I think ob you
W'ile heah in —" dar it's blotted out.
But dat it twuz sumphin' rail sweet
An' lubin', dar's no doubt.
Den takin' up whar blottin' stop:
"I thanks you fo' de candy,
De sweatah an' de backah, too,
Dey sho wuz fine an' dandy.

"I'spect to see you, Deah, fo' long,
De Capin sed—" ain't dat a doun right sin,
Jes et de inderestin' part,
Dat blottin' starts ergin?
Aldough I frets, I obahlooks
Caze jes' ez lak ez not,
Dem bullits whizzin' right an' lef'
Maik enybody blot.

Raymond Garfield Dandridge

1920

A. L. Imes

mrbot — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 21:10:02 +0000

Some men go beyond their way
To advertise, in bold display,
The knowledge of the favors they may lend.
Yet, I find one who, if he might,
Would do his best deeds in the night,
And in the darkness bid the matter end.

Raymond Garfield Dandridge

1920