Songs of Jamaica (1912)

To a Comrade

LITTLE comrade, never min’
Though another is unkin’;
“Of de pain o’ dis ya wul’
We must suck we bellyful.”[1]

Little comrade, moan not so,
Oh, you fill my heart with woe!
Sad I listen to your cries,
Can’t you ope your burnin’ eyes?

Little comrade, though ’tis hot,[2]
Say you will revenge him not:[3]
Talk not thus, you mek me grieve,
Promise me you will forgive.

Little comrade, never min’
Though a brother is unkin’;
Treat him kindest as you can,
Show yourself the better man


  1. See 'Whe' fe do', which the author and his little comrade had been reading together ↵
  2. Painful ↵
  3. Tell me you will not take vengeance on him ↵

License

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This work (Poems by Claude McKay by Claude McKay) is free of known copyright restrictions.