The Welthy Nigah Poem by James Ephraim McGirt

One day along I'se strolem,
Mi circumstances scolin;
I saw a roll ob money in de san,
At fust de money bline me,
Till I 'hurd a voice behind me,
Den wid de money to mi home I ran.

Dis black nigah am welthy, boys, at last;
U otter see de razein ob de hat whin I pass;
Dis black nigar dont seem so funny,
Since deys found he's got de money,
'N dem same old nigahs am glad now ter call me boss.

Der wus sum yaller darkies in de place whur I wus born,
Da uster say I'se smutty'n how da uster scorn;
Da uster hab der social da uster hab der teas,
Da uster hab der walkins for de cake;
But me da allus slighted,
Ter none I was envited,
Da treated me as do I wus a snake.

Dis black nigah am welthy, boys, at last;
U otter see dem yaller nigahs bowin whin I pass;
Dis black nigah dont seem so funny,
Since deys found ise got de money,
'N dem same old nigahs am glad now ter call me boss.

I had er brudder and sistah in de place whur I wus born,
'N bof ob dem wus yallar des blackun uster scorn;
Da hurd dat I'd returned wid money fur ter burn,
Da bof on me did cast a wishful eye,
Uv cose da uster scorn me,
But now da lub ter own me,
Da cry, der go mi brudder! ez I go by.

Dis black nigah am welthy, boys, at last;
U otter see mi brudder an mi sister grinnin whin I pass,
Der black brudder dont seem so funny,
Since da's found he's got de money,
'N dem same old nigahs am glad now ter call me boss.

Der wus sum Irish merchants in de place whur I was born,
'N whin I'd pass der buelding oh how dem clirks wud scorn;
Dey found dat I'd returned wid money fur ter burn,
Da'd ask me in so nicely whin I'd pass,
I had not changed mi culler;
Da heard I had de dollor,
De dollor toes de line to any class.

Dis black nigah am welthy, boys, at last;
U otter hur dem merchants call ob me whin I pass,
Dis black nigah don't seem so funny,
Since deys found he's got de money,
'N dem same old nigahs am glad now to call me boss.