Yellow Crocus (Freedman/Johnson, #1)

by Laila Ibrahim

Go to sleepy, little baby Go to sleepy, little baby Your mama’s gone away and your daddy’s gone to stay Didn’t leave nobody but the baby A soft belch escaped from Miss Elizabeth’s tiny mouth. Go to sleepy, little baby Go to sleepy, little baby Everybody’s gone in the cotton and the corn Didn’t leave nobody but the baby Miss Elizabeth grew heavy, melting against Mattie’s body. You’re a sweet little baby You’re a sweet little baby Honey in the rock and the sugar don’t stop Gonna bring a bottle to the baby Mattie moved Miss Elizabeth down into her arms and cradled her close, rocking back and forth. Don’t you weep, pretty baby Don’t you weep, pretty baby She’s long gone with the red shoes on gonna meet another lovin’ baby The little one’s eyes glazed over; her eyelids slowly blinked shut and then open, shut and then open, then shut. Go to sleepy, little baby Go to sleepy, little baby You and me and the devil makes three Don’t need no other lovin’ baby Mattie continued the gentle song, rocking slowly, confident of lulling Miss Elizabeth to sleep. Go to sleepy, little baby Go to sleepy, little baby Come and lay your bones on the alabaster stones And be my ever-lovin’ baby