Magnificent Poem; a Supernal One

In the mid 30's of the 20th Century Kate McAlpin Grady took down the words of a grand old black patriarch on the Mississippi Delta and here is what she got.




What you gwine-do when
de riber overflow?
Set on my gallery, and watch her go.

How you qwine-a ack wid de water
in your room?
Sweep it out wid a sedge-straw broom.

What you gwine-a do when your
hawgs all drown?
Gwine-a wish I lived on higher ground.

What you gwine-a do when de
cow floats away?
Throw in after her a bale of hay.

How you gwine-a ack when
de cabin leaves?
Climb on de roof and straddle de eaves.

What you gwine-a do without
no shelter?
Float wid de current down to de delta.

How you gwine-a ack when it come
on night?
Trus' in God and hold on tight.

What you qwine-a do if your
stren'th give way?
Say, 'Howdy, Lawd, it's Judgment Day!