Tunk Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BB CC DD EF GG HH II JJ KK LM JJ FF BB| A Lecture on Modern Education | A |
| - | |
| - | |
| Look heah Tunk Now ain't dis awful T'ought I sont you off to school | B |
| Don't you know dat you is growin' up to be a reg'lah fool | B |
| - | |
| Whah's dem books dat I's done bought you Look heah boy you tell me quick | C |
| Whah's dat Webster blue back spellah an' dat bran' new 'rifmatic | C |
| - | |
| W'ile I'm t'inkin' you is lahnin' in de school why bless ma soul | D |
| You off in de woods a playin' Can't you do like you is tole | D |
| - | |
| Boy I tell you it's jes scan'lous d'way dat you is goin' on | E |
| An' you sholy go'n be sorry jes as true as you is bo'n | F |
| - | |
| Heah I'm tryin' hard to raise you as a credit to dis race | G |
| An' you tryin' heap much harder fu' to come up in disgrace | G |
| - | |
| Dese de days w'en men don't git up to de top by hooks an' crooks | H |
| Tell you now dey's got to git der standin' on a pile o' books | H |
| - | |
| W'en you sees a darkey goin' to de fiel' as soon as light | I |
| Followin' a mule across it f'om de mawnin' tel de night | I |
| - | |
| Wukin' all his life fu' vittles hoein' 'tween de cott'n rows | J |
| W'en he knocks off ole an' tiah'd ownin' nut'n but his clo'es | J |
| - | |
| You kin put it down to ignunce aftah all what's done an' said | K |
| You kin bet dat dat same darkey ain't got nut'n in his head | K |
| - | |
| Ain't you seed dem w'ite men set'n in der awfice Don't you know | L |
| Dey goes der 'bout nine each mawnin Bless yo' soul dey's out by fo' | M |
| - | |
| Dey jes does a little writin' does dat by some easy means | J |
| Gals jes set an' play piannah on dem printin' press muchines | J |
| - | |
| Chile dem men knows how to figgah how to use dat little pen | F |
| An' dey knows dat blue back spellah f'om beginnin' to de en' | F |
| - | |
| Dat's de 'fect of education dat's de t'ing what's gwine to rule | B |
| Git dem books you lazy rascal Git back to yo' place in school | B |
James Weldon Johnson
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
About Tunk
Tunk is a poem by James Weldon Johnson. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
Write your comment about Tunk poem by James Weldon Johnson
Genise Griffin Fairbanks: I have been looking for this poem for 25 years. My father is from Mississippi, and it was taught to him and his siblings at school. they would take turns quoting verses. The last time I heard it was 26 or 27 years ago. My father and his older sister would see who could remember it most accurately. My dad died in 1998 and his older sister died in 2004. She was born in 1911 and my dad was born 1921. No one knew who the author was, so I have been searching using key words. I have book marked this place and will give my remaining siblings a copy of their very own. Thank you so much for posting this piece of African American history.
Best Poems of James Weldon Johnson