This folder contains typescripts and manuscripts of approximately 10 poems. Some of them show Cummings’ political side, criticizing what he saw as the shortcomings of the GOP and warning that “If you vote for Ike you’ll cut your throat.”https://mds.marshall.edu/cummings_papers/1025/thumbnail.jp

Cummings, Melville Homer

English

Marshall University

Marshall UniversityMarshall Digital ScholarThe M. Homer Cummings Papers The Rev. M. Homer Cummings CollectionFebruary 2019Series III. Folder 5. Poems, n.d.Melville Homer CummingsFollow this and additional works at: https://mds.marshall.edu/cummings_papersPart of the Appalachian Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, Digital HumanitiesCommons, Poetry Commons, and the Rhetoric CommonsThis Book is brought to you for free and open access by the The Rev. M. Homer Cummings Collection at Marshall Digital Scholar. It has been acceptedfor inclusion in The M. Homer Cummings Papers by an authorized administrator of Marshall Digital Scholar. For more information, please contactzhangj@marshall.edu, beachgr@marshall.edu.Recommended CitationCummings, Melville Homer, "Series III. Folder 5. Poems, n.d." (2019). The M. Homer Cummings Papers. 25.https://mds.marshall.edu/cummings_papers/25A man named amson was so strong Because the hair he wore was long . One day this giant chanced to stop-•T was at Delilah ' s Barber Shop . W~ile there , his flo in6 ,locks were ~sborn Nhich he from infanc~ had worn . this hair cut brought him grief and shame-A helplese ·weaklin~, he oecame . Bis enemies now made him blind And forced him in the jail to ~rind . -- -His hair grew back once more in length And that, it seems , increased his strength . ~·oes with their sacrifice and voice ret in thei tei~le to rejoice. But when they ridiculed bis fall , He nulled the _house down on them all . * * * A preacher in the~ - u. b.-(A ~ood and useful man is he He has ability and knowledge } ne day be saw a barber college And so be walked into the shop . They cut his hair and peeled his top . ~hen he came out, he was a fri6ht-His wife could scarce believe the sight . But as the seasons come and go His hair once more will longer grow . A handsome man he ' ll be again But he will haue to wait till then . ~~,c..:..t~? ~, .. ., 1° j :t t,., i. s T\'Ul1111 I J iJ not s,r No do...,bt "JOU 1 \/f! gve.sse.J ;t a tty Wa!f ',Ma.LL, l\c. ""~ l l speak t.c v s toit.;g'ld: A n J t e l l v s .a H a /, o v-t cHI ,.. -p lt: g h "t . r r Her mother was .. a avage but •later changed her name And after matrimony an Adkans- she became . Maxine , who ' s rarely happy with matters as they are , Went out and married Whitey and now she. is a Barr . If ever in your travels , this person you should meet At jobs and occupations , you ' ll find her hard to beat . For saw- mills , she has labored , she ' s worked behind the plow , She ' s fed the hogs and chickens and she bas milked a cow . She does a little plumbing and under buildings crawls , And when she ' s busy painting , she puts on overalls . Insurance , she is selling - fire, accident , and theft And life insurance also , for wives who ' ll be bereft . ~- n agent for cosmetics , Sfte has perfume galore; It will be more than likely , you ' ll see her at your door . If you desire fr-"license f& Chevrolet or Nash, She ' ll gladly get it for you , if you produce the cash . She has been a detective and watched unruly youth _o_-ea. 1~ . \I ~ As they would use a crow-bar to e!JL 001ns :rr• a booth . At home, when she !s not spying and looking for more crooks , he serves as an accountant and keeps her mother ' s books . 7 She plays for us the organ whi99 we .appreciate And she is very faithful and 3aP04Y •~e. late . He..,~-f i" n,ge,·s have be.e.11. If you have ever ridden with Mrs . Maxine Barr , / 'i1 !~cl< ~ - .,,_.t wi-e4 ,.. ~~.sto, You 'd think she drove an airplane instead of just a car . - - k~ok Lyle says she has not paid him for parking on his lot; } '1 ""' 8 aus~ b"'J '1'\'U..l\i ?"'t -t.r.u~ or a,·":iv d~c..t This charge I cannot answer , it may be ~ ~ not . _ ,#\/hc.'Y\. !he. e.ac:h si;ck ~ '\~~ \ l. Yes , she has been a waitress and eggs and bacon fried ; s-iJ.S::H, · u. 4 .,,v4 S+l•~ --------- --,-,0.,....h-e tried her hand at1 nursing until her patient died . ~ 1j~ 1,e"1i<a\f :,. loaf Last year , she took tne census for dear, old Uncle Sam ~ s&ia 1. as di,-?~c! ~ And in her face some people , their doors would loudly slam . -t:aJ-c.r ' J-... wck?LPt.4, a te:,.ky She takes a daily paper., 11 Help Wanted 11 ads; , she reads ~-So she can find another position that she needs . A5.-ti'l'ly -m.ovse. wovlc.l In analyzing Maxine , we often are perplexed , c..a.vL '1.c.,-There is no way of telling what she 1.ll be doing next • Sf-iiL' s t-, .,,,.,_ ~ ~ ,11.J al(jof f3\.Jt \f-e.t (,1i.. 1cl c.L~n-i.b , lac! Je ~ St"?" • Lea..L< 'i 'T"-df-, h ~,· h.e ,- eh~ d-.- e. ... , -.·•u.J n"\ be..--,.. th re e I 6\i 't ,~,e. a-r~ led 1:<.J \N01 Hle..,-, if he.,- ther evt, See . > Her mother was a Savage but later changed her name By matrimony ' s process when Adkins she became . Maxine , who ' s rarely happy with matters as they are , Went out and married Whitey and she is now a Barr . ~, }~ ~ €' ~ 0(1 4 • ., )-.l ~ j I ~ t ~ i 1 ig '° } l } w ,t) I r ) r l r )j t 0 ()Q I - J. , _,. ' . v., ~ !'"--~ ~ i 1~ l l } r f • 1. k J ' 1 t 1· {~ 11 fl 1 1 i l< Jf! ~ ~ Though Frankel calls her honey and Whitey thinks shesfweet , For jobs and occupations , she ' s mighty hard to beat . -At saw-mills , she has labored, she's worked behind the plow ; She ' s fed the hogs and chickens.and learned to milk a cow . Instlrance , she is sell i ng- fire , accident , and theft ; And life insurance also for wives who ' ll be bereft . An agent for cosmetics , she has perfume galore ; It will be more than likely, you ' ll see her at your door . If you desire a license for Chevrolet or Nash , She ' ll gladly get it for you if you produce the cash . She has been a detective and watched unruly youthSE: J " As they would use a crow-bar to steal coirrs· from i,,iM;~ booth • She plays for us the organ which we appreciate And she is very faithful and rarely ever late . If you have ever ridden with Mrs . Maxine Barr, You 'd think she drove an airplane instead of just a car . Yes , she h.as been a waitress and eggs and bacon fried; She tried her hand at nursing until her patient died . Last year , she took the census for dear , old Uncle Sam And in her face some people , the door would madly slam . She.. -ta.l<e s~ .\ Ja ;l'i -pa pe,·, •·1-1(..t,_, W~-rrt.ed '' ad~. she. .-e.a<:Ls s~ $he.. c..4\1\ f~nd ·a ,~otlte.l" -pos;-t,011 that .she- n~e.Js. In ;al'\o.l-t z.ing t-1 a.1';l1e • W 'i!.. ()fia n arc. -,e,•pl-e x e- J.1 f '1'1-te-re ~s 1'\.o w ~11 o f -t. e Uiit & what Sh.e'U i1 e. J o ;n..< n~x~ ~ s , . r. . ' .,. , ,. ~~ ,,,J..e~ ~~ ~· r t . IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN The Republican seed- it sprouted and grew In the simple minds of quite a few, And many a rnan has busted a dyke And made up his mind to vote for Ike. They 've promised a lot, and they'l l promise more. Let's look and see what they did before. Twenty years have passed and yet Those Hoover days I'll never forget. ~hen Hoover was .in, I lived on a farm, A dollar bill looked as long as my arm. I did not see then a ten dollar bill-And if Ike is elected, I doubt if I will. When Hoover was .in, things were really tight. The rabbis were scarce and the fish wouldn't bite. The men were too ragged to go anywhere wore And the womenArlour-sack underwear. Remember, men, when you cast your vote, If you vote for Ike you'll cut your throat . Wouli you rahter have a life of ease, Or hard- time gravy and black-eyed peas? - Ev~r since nineteen hundred and thirty-two fhe Republican Party has been in a stew. They've called the Democrats nasty names, But the banks ave stayed open just the same. "Sec-Ve the Loc-d with gladness: come befoc-e His pc-esence with singing." Ps. 100:2. GLASGOW METHODIST CHURCH M . HOMER CUMMINGS. PASTOR The Ralph M. Glasgow, West Virginia October 20, 1962 "Poe-when th~ one Gt'eat Scot'et' comes to wc-ite against youc- name, He Wc-ites • not that you Won oc- lost, but how you played the game" IF THIS SHOULE HAPPEN The Republican seed- it sprouted and grew In he simple minds of quite a few, And many a man has busted a dyke And made up his mind to vote for Ike. -Th~ p-remi se-d..- a lo , and" ~ey'1.l · promi Let's look and see what they did before. Twenty years have passed and yet Those Hoover days I'll never gorJet. When Hoover was in, I lived on a farm, A dollar bill looketl as long as my arm. I never saw a ten dollar -bhll-And i f Ike is elected, I doubt if I willl more. When Hoover was .in, things were really tight. The rabbits were scarce and the fish wouldn't bite. The men were too raged to go anywhere, And the women wore flour-sack unde wear. ~ .. Remember , men, when you cast your vote, If you vote for Ike., you' 11 cut your throat. Would you rather. have a life of ease ~r wa er gravy and black-eyed peas? Ever since nineteen hundred and thirty-two The Republican ~arty has been in a stew. They called he Democrats n~sty names But the banks ~tayed open just the same. It's hard ogive up the thin~s I've got , A home, a car, two chickens in the pot. I'm not going to throw them away If Ike is elected, I'll movE to the farm, I'll plant some •t~ters behind the barn. I'll borrow my _ neighbors roasting ears An trv to get by for four more ye~rs. "It's time to changh," the Republicans say, C S affle hange back, they mean, to the _,. old way. Before you fall for all their wooing-Just ask yourself- "Say, boy, how am I :icing?" , .. ·~ ~~~~ - ~ r- --;I' ' -~ , nrp ----1" P. ~ •• , --------- ~ ---y--~ "'7?.l. ~- .. ,,. "f - . ' ~ ~ -----1 ~ ---,,1., • jy'- .. ~/- ~ ~ ,-r:--t • :,::-·-- 1 _, -l, ,- ~ -p-of ..,. .. ~ -:-r--e I _.,.. ..,.._d_, ~~ or:1Y' ~ ~ ---:r ~ ~---v::t- -ry:t. ~ ~ If you are looking for a car In wh~~h to travel near and far , Let me commend t o you the Nash-Its pick- up, get-away , and dash. Not _on l y has it pep and spee1 features that you need. It 1oes not use much oil and gas ~ ,Ai"I t has no equal in its class. You ' ll like its style, its beauty rare , Is durability and wear. /IMI!-~~~ ·s an easy car to steer, ts windows furnish vision clear. Tho ' light or heavy be the load, You'll ride in comfort on the roa1. And you will fin1 where ' er you 60 , Its operating costs are low. When ni ~ht arrives, you ' 11 have a be1 On which to rest your weary head. ve away . w. •. DAVIS FEDERAL TRUCK SALES AND SERVICE 2442 THIRD AVE. PHONE 8938 HUNTINGTON, W. VA. CUSTOMER'S 0RDE~~ ~~~~DAT ~ ~ 19-SOLD TO A , .. -y.y- -- ~....---1 ....,..,., h-,r-:~ ~~ ADDRESS ____________________________ _ MDSE. SOLD MDSE. RET'D REC 'D O N A CCT . - N O T E MISC'L PAID OU T QUAN -TITY CREDIT IT NUMBER ARTICLES / ,-1 ___ __.. MERCHAN T S F- 196 "7 ")'" ••W' ~ ~J:- ~  -:;r 3109~ ~E~  'rw;> .; .... l, ~ RECEIVED ev ________________ _ c,) Well , Maxine thinks we ought t o hang A certain member of our gang ; But there is David Allen Smith That we have got to reckon with-He says that we bad better shoot The one he wants t o execute . Lyle Clark suggests another plan, That we had better gas this man . We 1d like to hear from each of you The proper thing for us to do . Since I 1m his pastor and his friend , This person , I shall now defend . It would be well to know the er irne He has committed at this time . What has he done so bad that he Should pay this awful penalty? Was it because he went away And from us for awhile did stay? 1T is true he left us no address-Just where he was , we ' ll have to guess . Down there , ' tis said he did not preach But he was seen upon a beach/ Such rumors should arouse our ire-For 11 where there ' s smoke , there always fire . 11 Do you believe that it is so That to such places he would go? I can't accept these charges grave ; Ah , who would think he 'd misbehave? ince he is on six month~ ' probation , Don ' t complicate the situation. ( I do not say my watch he stole For that would forfett his parole ! ) What he has done , we do not know ; So , mercy to him , let us show . Another half-year , we shall wait While Maxine tries to keep him straight , And Lelia with her eagle eyes Upon his actions closely spies . And Leo , 1 111 confess to you , There is some work for you to do . Watch Maxine Barr , hold her in check ! And Lelia , keep her on the deck For fear old Zion ' s ship she 'll wreck . To David Smith , what shall I say? They tell me while he was away , He 1d turn the hose upon the grass Whene 1er the pretty girls would pass . Now , David , I am warning you And giving you advice t hat's true : You ' d better stay in Jail for li fe fhap take unto yourself a wife-, Phere is no way for you to win Phe battle of the rolling pin. Hard is the lot, great is the cost When man is nagged, hen- pecked, and bossed. * * * Well , Leo , what we 've said and done You understand was all in fun . 11 A little nonsense now and then Is relished by the wisest rnen . 11 We wish the very best in life For you , your family , -and wife . 1 -My memory is very br ief , ~u t would it give ~e joy or grief If I could go back to I ife 1s brink And ascertain what infants think? * * * A tiny, helpl ess babe was I; I cou ld not tal k ~ut I could cry And though I was not very shrewd , Perhaps I also laughed and cooed. Since I had come to earth to live , A name to me they had to give; They cal led me Homer and , you see, A poet I was dei ne to be! It may be yet ere I am dead , Li ke Homer , I I I I be be qi ng read. Kind Providence up n me smiled And I was bo rn the sev nth chi Id. When old enough , I went to school , The teachers tau gh t the 3- rule Of readin g, ' r i ting, ' r i th met i c , Augmente~ with the hickory stick. Ttten,for awhile , left Monroe And to the sou thland I did go . While livin g dowm in Tennessee , James 0. cClurkan I icensed me To preach the gospe l f ·od ' s love And po int men to that home above . The year was Nineteen-Hundred-Seven-The subject of my sermon "Heaven.• That night I tried as best I could To urge my h arers t be ood , To give up sin and live for God And walk the ath tha Jesus trod . One person deep conviction felt And to the altar came and knelt ; Wh ile he was praying , he el ieved And life eternal , ~e rece ived. From then unti I the present hou r, I 've asked the Lor for strength and power $afvation ' s message to proc laim 11'0 Sovls ;n da't'/01e.ss. Sln anJ shan,e, \ ) WALTON MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1944 • ORGAN PRELUDE. The people in devout meditation. THE CALL TO WORSHIP. HYMN No. 1--"Holy, Holy, Holy."--The People Standing. THE APOSTLES' CREED, repeated by all, the _people still standing. THE LORD'S PRAYER, repeated by all, the people seated and bowed, or kneeling. ANTHEM. RESPONSIVE READING, Fortieth Sunday, "The Divine Up-holding."--The people standing. L-_ _ .......,__ORIA PATRI. v- SCRIPTURE LESSON. ANNOUNCEMENTS. PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS. INVOCATION. SERMON. IHYMN No. 23f>--"Close To Thee."--The People Standing. BENEDICTION. DOXOLOGY. ORGAN POSTLUDE. REGULAR SERVICES Sunday school, 9:30 A. M., Leo R. 'Tucker, superintendent.; morning worship service, 10:45; evening· worship service, 7:::tO, conducted by the young people; prayer meeting, Wednesday. T:30 P. K. -PLEASE DO NOT MISS A SINGLE SERVICE! -SELF1 - 0EN'PERED ~veryoody has heard of the old man who made this prayer : Lord, bless me and .my wife , Ny son John . and .his wife , Us four and .no mor.e. iParther down the street was a chi l dihess .couple who aye . -----Lord, bless us two , And that wiLl do . --Aroun the .cor.ner ,lived an old bachelor whose prayer was : Lord, bless only me, That 1·s as far as I can see . inother as given us the substance of selfishness .in this poem : I ~ave a little tea party this afternoon for three. ' 'f was very smal L, three guests in ail -I, myself , and me . My self ate up the sandw ic hes while I drank all the te 1'f was also I who ate the pie and passed the cake for me • . I . -•• ~ --J.. 1 -- ----,~ . 7~ .....,JL/'VI,...,_~ ..... ()_~~ ~ ~~.•~--1 ... · ....... .-t '~ ~ ~ ,. (!Ir ""'-/ • ~----,------ .,._ I I ~, ~ V..t.,,,o,...,i~-L-. - t.J £~ .. C·Bc ~ ~ ~ ~ -'; '~1~ , SUPERANNUATION By M. Homer Cumming, Old Father Time decreed that Had grown too old to even try To serve .a circuit or a st.ation But live in superannuation -And mostly out of circulation. No charge have I this year to keep; I am no shepherd of the sheep. Although I'm not a vegetarian, I am a septuage narian; And while I a1m di'Scarded And more or less retarded, I do not think that I am iunk But iust .a spare- back in the trunk; And I am waiting at this iuncture For blow-outs, slow leaks or a puncture. Sometimes a parson goes away And sends for me that Sabb.ath day To "baby-sit" in his pulpit Till he- returns from his brief stay. When I receive his S. 0. S. With all the strength that I poissess, I try to keep hi'S members quiet And feed them on a "tasty" diet Of poems, iokes, and anecdotes And soothing sermons without notes. * * * * Uke autumn leaves that fade- and fall The end will come to one and all. One night when I was sorry for myself Because I had been placed upon the shelf, I felt th.at I was down and out and done And that my weary nace on earth was run, I went to hear the SINGING CARAVAN And, in this gr,oup, there was a man Who sang the- number, "Until Then," It gave me hope and cheer again. Oh, how the chorus clearly rang As he th1at night so 'Sweetly sang! "But until then my heart will go on singing, Until then with joy I'll carry on, Until the day my eyes behold th~ city-Until the day God calls me home." I listened and my e,yes with tears were filled And every portion of my being thrilled. I cried:, "O Father, can it be That there is still a place for me? The end will come, I know not when BUT I'll KEEP WORKING UNTIL THEN! • M. HOMER CUMMINGS RETIRED MINISTER 130 Cedar Street Huntington, W. Va. 25705 Phone 525-6202 ~ :Z.J, f 17 1 cfj~ (TD-A.II~ i ~~ : i::. .~ ~ ;__t_ ~ ~ ~ ,vJ-t.-o.,,-t. J.-{~, ,vv~ ~ ~ .~ ~ /'C' ,._J.. ~ ~ ~ .:-- ·r ~ , ~· ~, ~;~ ~ ~✓ ~ ~ ·fo1v~-t&d-. ~ ~~ . ';)ry ~ ~ . ~ ~ ~. ✓'4-vv-- ~ ~ ;_;t___l tJ' ~ ~ ~ ~J r ~ ~ ·• bf~ ~ -;tk_ rl~~~ ~ ~j /' ~ ~~1 ,~~ ~ ~ t · --'~ -~~~-~ --_ __ _ , ~~ P0.... ~~~~ ~ 1. ~ o6A,~ -~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ -THE REPUBLICAN WAIL . . Dwight Eisenhower vilifies And pulls his hair that's left and cries And uses words almost inhuman In criticising Harry Truman; But when the President replies, Te G. o. P. screams to the skies In tones so loud that all can hear, "It is a low and dirty smear!" No one today may dare to say, "Republicans killed O. P. A." Or mention Nixon 's extra pay Or Joe McCarthy 's reckless way Of making charges without proof-From these things, we must keep aloof For, if we don't, their wail we hear, "lt is a vile and vicious smear!" Republicans denounce as Red Each one who wants the hungry fed And those who labor ev'ry day To get the worker better pay. T ey ridicule the "welfare state," The New and Fair Deals, they berate. But when we answer them, they jeer: "It is a Communistic smear!" What has the Grand Old Party done For any one beneath the sun ~xoept _ the rich and favored few? They never even think of you. They've naught at which to point with pride; Their shameful record, they must hide. To cover •up, they snort and sneer: "It is a mean and nasty smear!" THI REPUBLICAN WAIL Dwight Eisenhower vilifies And pulls his ~air that's left and cries And iMI~~ lA-irrrr;;di"-" I • l- 0-?~ ~ v-= ( ~, --1: 1'-- p \ ~ c ~ ~ I '-r......>-~ ~· z (!_ ' l, ~ ~ ? . ~ -I~ ~ p ' 

Series III. Folder 5. Poems, n.d.

https://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=cummings_papers

Series III. Folder 5. Poems, n.d.

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