Charm String Memories Poem by Betty Smith Foley

When I sets down in de evenin' whiles de shades
uv night is low,
An' I wants ter see de faces uv de folks I used
ter know,
I gits out my fam'bly buttons whut I keeps all
on er string;
'Dough dey's ole, an' wo'n, an' rusty-sweetes'
memories dey bring.

On dis kivered green silk button whut I's treas-
ured wid such care,
Is er pictuah uv my Mistus-dressed in silks she
use ter wear.
In de chu'ch on Sunday mornin's-f'um de back
seat whar I set-
Down de aisle I sees her goin'-I kin heah de
swishin' yet.

Dis brass button wus my Marsa's whut come off
his coat uv gray;
Thoo de rus' I see his likeness-plain es when
he went erway.
I kin heah de ro' uv cannon an' de soun' uv shot
an' shell-
Uv de battle fiel', dis button has sad memories
ter tell.

Dis is one uv many buttons whut went down
young Missy's basque,
An' ter git dem buttoned eben wus almos' er
en'less task;
Fur I allus had ter name 'um 'Rich man, po'
man, beggar, thief, '
Had ter make de las' one come out 'Doctor,
lawyer, merchant, chief, '

An' young Marsha's gol' stud button on his white
shirt front did flash!
W'y, my white folks, dey was qual'ty-dey wa'n't
none yo' po' white trash.
You kin allus tell 'bout people-whedder dey
wus rich ur po'-
You kin tell 'um by de buttons off de clo'es whut
dey is wo'.

Now dese little white rice buttons somehow
makes me drap er teah;
fur I sees de chillun's faces-dese I hol's de
mos'es' deah-
I kin see de little dresses, panties, pettycoats an'
wais's-
Took so many little buttons fur ter hol' dem in
deir place.

When you's lef' erlone an' waitin' fur de sum-
mons f'um erbove,
Dere ain't nuffin' lak ole buttons-dey brings
memories uv love;
So dis charm string I shall cherish 'tel ole Marsa
calls me on,
Whar I'll see de sho' nuf faces uv my white folks
whut is gone.