Sylvester's Dying Bed
Sylvester's Dying Bed - meaning Summary
Death Told in Vernacular
The poem presents a dying narrator, Sylvester, who wakes to women and family mourning around his bed. In African American vernacular he acknowledges death approaching, remembers the River Jordan, and asserts his identity as "Sweet Papa 'Vester" while calling for his children. The communal grief and the speaker’s calm acceptance culminate in a final, simple reaching gesture before darkness and death close the scene.
Read Complete AnalysesI woke up this mornin' 'Bout half-past three. All the womens in town Was gathered round me. Sweet gals was a-moanin', "Sylvester's gonna die!" And a hundred pretty mamas Bowed their heads to cry. I woke up little later 'Bout half-past fo', The doctor 'n' undertaker's Both at ma do'. Black gals was a-beggin', "You can't leave us here!" Brown-skins cryin', "Daddy! Honey! Baby! Don't go, dear!" But I felt ma time's a-comin', And I know'd I's dyin' fast. I seed the River Jerden A-creepin' muddy past- But I's still Sweet Papa 'Vester, Yes, sir! Long as life do last! So I hollers, "Com'ere, babies, Fo' to love yo' daddy right!" And I reaches up to hug 'em- When the Lawd put out the light. Then everything was darkness In a great ... big ... night.
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