I stood beside the silken rope, <br /> Five dollars in my hand, <br />And waited in my patient hope <br /> To sit anear the Band, <br />And hear the famous Louie play <br /> The best hot trumpet of today. <br /> <br />And then a waiter loafing near <br /> Says in a nasty tone: <br />"Old coon, we don't want darkies here, <br /> Beat it before you're thrown." <br />So knowin' nothin' I could do <br /> I turned to go and--there was Lou. <br /> <br />I think he slapped that Dago's face; <br /> His voice was big an' loud; <br />An' then he leads me from my place <br /> Through all that tony crowd. <br />World-famous Louie by the hand <br /> Took me to meet his famous Band. <br /> <br />"Listen, you folks," I heard him say. <br /> "Here's Grand-papa what's come. <br />Savin' he teached me how to play, <br /> I mighta been a bum. <br />Come on, Grand-pop, git up an' show <br /> How you kin trumpet Ol' Black Joe." <br /> <br />Tremblin' I played before his Band: <br /> You should have heard the cheers. <br />Them swell folks gave me such a hand <br /> My cheeks was wet wi' tears . . . <br />An' now I'm off to tell the wife <br /> The proudest night o' all ma life.<br /><br />Robert William Service<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/segregation/
