Page:Anthology of Magazine Verse (1921).djvu/94

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GAMESTERS ALL
The river boat had loitered down its way,The ropes were coiled, and business for the dayWas done. The cruel noon closed slowly downAnd cupped the streaming town.Stray voices called across the blinding heat,Then drifted off to shadowy retreatAmong the sheds. The waters of the baySucked awayIn tepid swirlsAs listless as the day.Silence closed about me like a wallFinal and obstinate as death.Until I longed to break it with a call,Or barter life for one deep, windy breath.
A mellow laugh came ripplingAcross the stagnant airLifting it into little waves of life.Then, true and clear,I caughtA snatch of harmony;Sure, lilting tenor and a drowsing bass,Elusive chords that weave and interlace,And poignant little minors broken shortLike robins calling June.And then the tune:
"Oh, nobody knows when de Lord am goin' ter call,Roll dem bones.It may be in de Summer time an may be in de Fall,Roll dem bones.But yer got ter leabe yer baby an yer home an all.So, roll dem bonesOh, my brudder,Oh, my brudder,Oh, my brudder,Roll dem bones."

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