Poem by James Weldon Johnson

Ma Lady's Lips Am Like de Honey

        (Negro Love Song)


    Breeze a-sighin' and a-blowin',
    Southern summer night.
    Stars a-gleamin' and a-glowin',
    Moon jes shinin' right.
    Strollin', like all lovers do,
    Down de lane wid Lindy Lou;
    Honey on her lips to waste;
    'Speck I'm gwine to steal a taste.

      Oh, ma lady's lips am like de honey,
      Ma lady's lips am like de rose;
      An' I'm jes like de little bee a-buzzin'
      'Round de flower wha' de nectah grows.
      Ma lady's lips dey smile so temptin',
      Ma lady's teeth so white dey shine,
      Oh, ma lady's lips so tantalizin',
      Ma lady's lips so close to mine.

    Bird a-whistlin' and a-swayin'
    In de live-oak tree;
    Seems to me he keeps a-sayin',
    "Kiss dat gal fo' me."
    Look heah, Mister Mockin' Bird,
    Gwine to take you at yo' word;
    If I meets ma Waterloo,
    Gwine to blame it all on you.

      Oh, ma lady's lips am like de honey,
      Ma lady's lips am like de rose;
      An' I'm jes like de little bee a-buzzin'
      'Round de flower wha' de nectah grows.
      Ma lady's lips dey smile so temptin',
      Ma lady's teeth so white dey shine,
      Oh, ma lady's lips so tantalizin',
      Ma lady's lips so close to mine.

    Honey in de rose, I spose, is
    Put der fo' de bee;
    Honey on her lips, I knows, is
    Put der jes fo' me.
    Seen a sparkle in her eye,
    Heard her heave a little sigh;
    Felt her kinder squeeze ma han',
    'Nuff to make me understan'.

1. The Color Sergeant
2. Answer to Prayer
3. Before a Painting
4. Down by the Carib Sea. 1. Sunrise in the Tropics
5. Down by the Carib Sea. 6. Sunset in the Tropics

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