Constab Ballads (1912)
Sukee River (1912 version)
I SHALL love you ever,
Dearest Sukee River:
Dash against my broken heart,
Nevermore from you I’ll part,
But will stay forever,
Crystal Sukee River.[1]
Cool my fevered brow:
Ah ! ’tis better now,
As I serpent-like lance t’rough
Your broad pool o’ deepest blue!
Dis once burnin’ brow
Is more better now.
All about me dashin’,
H’is’in’ up an’ splashin’,
Bubbles like de turtle-berries,
Jostlin’ wid de yerry-yerries,
All about me dashin’
H’is’in’ up an’ splashin’.
Oh! dis blissful swim,
Like a fairy dream!
Jumpin’ off de time-worn plank,
Pupperlicks[2] from bank to bank,
Dis delightful swim
Is a fairy dream.
Wavelets laughin’ hound me,
Ripples glad surround me:
Catchin’ at dem light an’ gay,
See dem scamper all away,
As dey playful hound me,
Or in love surround me.
T’rough de twistin’ dance
Onward do I lance:
Onward under yonder cave
Comes wid me a pantin’ wave,
Speedin’ from de dance
Wid me as I lance.
‘Neat’ dis shadin’ hedge
Growin’ by your bridge,
I am thinkin’ o’ you’ love,
Love dat not’in’ can remove,
‘Neat’ dis shadin’ hedge
Growin’ by your bridge.
Love more pure, I ken,
Dan de love o’ men,
Knowin’ not de fickle mind
Nor de hatred o’ my kind;
Purer far, I ken,
Dan de love o’ men.
E’en when welcome deaf
Claims dis painful breat’,
Of you I will ever think
Who first gave me crystal drink;
E’en when welcome deaf
Claims dis painful breaf.
For a little while
I must leave your smile:
Raindrops fallin’ from de sky
Force me now to say good-bye;
Jes’ lee[3] bit o’ while
I must leave your smile.
Foamin’ Sukee Eiver,
Dearer now dan ever,
I’ll ne’er roam from you again
To a life o’ so-so pain,
Crystal flowin’ river,
Dearer now dan ever.