(Lines on reading ‘Driftwood.’) Driftwood gathered here and there Along the beach of time; Now and then a chip of truth ‘Mid boards and boughs of rhyme;

Come when the nights are bright wi… Or when the moon is mellow; Come when the sun his golden bars Drops on the hay—field yellow. Come in the twilight soft and gray…

If thro’ the sea of night which here summons me, I could swim out beyond the farthest star, Break every barrier of circumstanc…

O li’l’ lamb out in de col’, De Mastah call you to de fol’, O li’l’ lamb! He hyeah you bleatin’ on de hill; Come hyeah an’ keep yo’ mou’nin’ s…

The moon begins her stately ride Across the summer sky; The happy wavelets lash the shore,… The tide is rising high. Beneath some friendly blade of gra…

KNOW you, winds that blow your c… Down the verdant valleys, That somewhere you must, perforce, Kiss the brow of Alice? When her gentle face you find,

EF you’s only got de powah fe’ to… Keep ermong de people wid de whist… Ef you don’t, you’ll fin’ out sho’… In a place dat’s all a bed o’ this… 'Tain’t no use a—goin’ now, ez sho…

How shall I woo thee to win thee,… Say in what tongue shall I tell o… I who was fearless so timid have g… All that was eagle has turned into… The path from the meadow that lead…

HIT’S been drizzlin’ an’ been sp… Kin’ o’ techy all day long. I ain’t wet enough fu’ toddy, I’s too damp to raise a song, An’ de case have set me t’inkin’,

Come on walkin’ wid me, Lucy; 't… Wen de sunshine 's shoutin’ glory… An’ de little Johnny—Jump—Ups 's… Den a—lookin’ roun’ to ax each oth… Don’ you hyeah dem cows a—mooin’?…

OUT in de night a sad bird moans, An’, oh, but hit’s moughty lonely; Times I kin sing, but mos’ I groa… Fu’ oh, but hit’s moughty lonely! Is you sleepin’ well dis evenin’,…

LET me close the eyes of my soul That I may not see What stands between thee and me. Let me shut the ears of my heart That I may not hear

Seems lak folks is mighty curus In de way dey t’inks an’ ac’s. Dey jes’ spen’s dey days a—mixin’ Up de t’ings in almanacs. Now, I min’ my nex’ do’ neighbour…

When I was young I longed for Lo… And held his glory far above All other earthly things. I cried… ‘Come, Love, dear Love, with me a… And with my subtlest art I wooed,

O Mother Race! to thee I bring This pledge of faith unwavering, This tribute to thy glory. I know the pangs which thou didst… When Slavery crushed thee with it…