APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!
Published
in 1855, I present "The Dark-Skinned Boy," written by
GYPSEY.
THE
DARK-SKINNED BOY
’Twas
dark-skinned boy, yet so beautiful,
With
his tender, large, soft eye,
And
the bright blood shone in his dusky cheek,
And
his forehead was broad and high;
And
his red lip dimpled with baby glee,
As
he danced and crowed on his mother’s knee.
The
sunlight skimmered through swinging vines,
On
a girlish figure bowed ;
For
the mother sat with weary soul,
Whilst
her young boy laughed aloud,
And
her mournful eyes on his face were bent,
Whilst
his ringing voice to her heart core went.
The
sunbeams lit on his jetty hair,
And
wove him golden crown,
An
he called to her, "look at the yellow gleams,
How
the vine leaves shook them down."
But
she started, and turned from his beaming face,
And
brought him away to a shadowy place.
How
he lifted in wonder his pleading eyes,
But
he saw that her look was sad ;
Then
his bright lip curled with kindred grief,
And
the child was no longer glad.
Such
a baby he, and still closer crept,
And
nestled his head on her heart and slept.
The
long, black lash, like silken fringe,
On
his warm cheek drooped so soft ;
And
the bright tears twinkled amid his locks,
For
the mother shed them oft.
Oh!
those bitter tears could they wash the stain
From
that dusky brow t’were not all in vain.
He
was free, and so bright, and so beautiful,
Then
why did that mother weep ?
And
why did she sit with such lifeless lips,
Looking
down on his blessed sleep ?
And
say, do ye ask for that mother’s joy ?
Oh,
God! he is naught but a "darkey boy !"
