Christmas Gif Poem by Betty Smith Foley

Chris'mus gif'! You's ketched, Marse Jimmy!
Chris'mus gif'! Dat's whut I say;
I's bin up er-ketchin' Chris'mus,
Long since 'fo' de break o' day.

Whut I say, you ax, young Marsa,
Whut is dat I's talkin' 'bout?
W'y, Suh, I's done ketched yo' Chris'mus
Jes'es loud es I kin shout.

Look er heah, now, Marsa Jimmy,
Don't you talk ter me dat way!
Wishin' me er 'Merry Chris'mus, '
'Dout er single hint uv pay.

Sayin' 'Merry Chris'mus, ' to you
Co'se is got er high tone soun';
But dem words don't fit dis darkey,
When ole Chris'mus comes eroun'.

Whut would yo' ole Paw, my Marsa,
Do if he would heah you say
Sech er thing as 'Merry Chris'mus'?
You knows we wa'n't raised dat way.

'Speck dat po' ole me, wid nuffin'
'Cep'n' burd'ns fur ter lif'
Gwin ter hab er 'Merry Chris'mus, '
'Dout I gits er Chris'mus gif'?

Thank you, Suh, Marse Jimmy, thank you,
I's es happy es kin be,
But widout er gif', don't ebber
Try ter 'Merry Chris'mus' me.