Miss Melerlee

    Hello dar, Miss Melerlee!
Oh, you’re pretty sight to see!
Sof brown cheek, an’ smilin’ face,
An’ willowy form chuck full o’ grace—
De sweetes’ gal Ah evah see.
An’ Ah wush dat you would marry me!
    Hello, Miss Melerlee!

    Hello dar, Miss Melerlee!
You’re de berry gal fo’ me!
Pearly teef, an’ shinin’ hair,
An’ silky arm so plump an’ bare!
Ah lak yo’ walk, Ah lak yo’ clothes,
An’ de way Ah love you—goodness knows!
    Hello, Miss Melerlee!

    Hello dar, Miss Melerlee!
Dat’s not yo’ name, but it ought to be!
Ah nevah seed yo’ face befo’
An’ lakly won’t again no mo’;
But yo’ sweet smile will follow me
Cla’r into eternity!
    Farewell, Miss Melerlee!

From The Book of American Negro Poetry (Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1922), edited by James Weldon Johnson. This poem is in the public domain.