LUCY ARIEL WILLIAMS
Reading edition
Lucy Ariel Williams was born in Mobile, Alabama, March 3, 1905. Her parents, Dr. and Mrs. H. Roger Williams surrounded her with the aesthetic and cultural environment usually given the only daughters in professional homes in the South. Miss Williams is well known as a modiste, poet and extremely talented pianist. Her early training was acquired at Emerson Institute, Mobile, Alabama. Later she was graduated from Talladega College and Fisk University, after which she attended Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio. Although a first year student there, she received third year classification, being the first member of her race to be so honored. Her work has appeared in Opportunity and other journals. Her poem “Northboun’” received first prize in the Opportunity contest for 1926.
NORTHBOUN’
O’ de wurl’ ain’t flat, An’ de wurl’ ain’t roun’, H’it’s one long strip Hangin’ up an’ down— Jes’ Souf an’ Norf; Jes’ Norf an’ Souf. Talkin’ ’bout sailin’ ’round de wurl’— Huh! I’d be so dizzy my head ’ud twurl. If dis heah earf wuz jes’ a ball You no the people all ’ud fall. O’ de wurl’ ain’t flat, An’ de wurl’ ain’t roun’, H’it’s one long strip Hangin’ up an’ down— Jes’ Souf an’ Norf; Jes’ Norf an’ Souf. Talkin’ ’bout the City whut Saint John saw— Chile you oughta go to Saginaw; A nigger’s chance is “finest kind,” An’ pretty gals ain’t hard to find. Huh! de wurl’ ain’t flat, An’ de wurl’ ain’t roun’, Jes’ one long strip Hangin’ up an’ down. Since Norf is up, An’ Souf is down, An’ Hebben is up, I’m upward boun’.