Dey think I is 'set' an' 'fo'gee,'
An' dey lub to sneer an' laff,
Gaze I duzen fancy black cats
Crossin' cross mah moon-lit paf.
An' dey calls me 'supahstitious,
Ignant, emptee headed fool,
Relick ob days, dead an' buried
Befo' man invented school.'

Dey doan stop w'en black cats cross 'em;
Aftah sun down, sweeps de flo';
Cum in yore house thoo de parlah;
Go out by de kitchen do';
Hang dair hats erpon de bed-stead;
Sweep dair feets off wid de broom;
Two will sit deysef on one chair,
Dats p'ovidin' dar is room.

Dey doan feah 'thirteen' nor 'Friday';
Dey puts on de lef' shoe furst;
Lubs to do whut am fo'biddin',
Jes to aggravate de wurst.
Dey duz dair way; I duz mah way;
Many folks hab many mines;
I jes ain't de sort, I reckon,
To defi de bad luck signs.