My Valued Ruby: Poems

POEMS BY PERRY HONCE McGEE WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA 1920 Copyright 1920. Perry Honce McGee
With love and hope, To bring the day foresighted, I dedicate this book to my race. — Perry Honce McGee

Oh! my mighty love, for my people, friends, But there’s a certain class of us that our minds doesn’t blend, Though we’ve fought many a battle and it seems we’ve always won, But we’ll be greater when the “Star of Liberia” shines like the sun. I have sat and dreamed and to come there’s a brighter day, But if our race pride’s weak, and we have no love, just when I’m afraid to say.
You pattern after the white man in every way but one, And that’s why the “Star of Liberia” cannot shine like the sun. We must learn to pull together, because animals know that much, For when we seesaw back and forth into our future it puts a clutch. This must be stopped or our defeat will be like the Huns, And it keeps the “Star of Liberia” from shining like the sun. I see a ship on the ocean at a distance of a thousand miles And it’s flying a flag of a people that will be prominent afterwhile.
There’s a tiny bit of a star that’s causing that flag to fly, But with a close observation it can be seen with the natural eye. We must love this flag above all things we’ve done, For it holds the “Star of Liberia” that’s going to shine like the sun. This ship has good omen and a cloudy day there’s none, Then why keep the “Star of Liberia” from shining like the sun. We know she’s cruised the ocean for fifty years or more, But as soon as we pull together she will land on the American shores.
Colored men stop your marriages To women of the other race, Quit breaking the hearts of our goodly women And bringing them a shameful face, Why are some of us thoughtless Upon things along this line, Why when you go out of this race to marry You leave women just as fine. Now colored men I’m pleading this case For our worthy colored girls And trying to stop this awful horror That’s passing through this world. Where do you find other women That will be yoked along you’re side, To help you sail life’s rough ocean, No matter how rigid the tide. They go with you through thick and thin, Down on their knees upon kitchen floors, And in wash tubs they tirelessly bend Just to help climb the ladder of fame. Then could you discard an honest soul That another race may honor your name? Now God in heaven wrote This humble oration, That we may form a grand And noble nation.