'E Gone

Mah Tea Cake gone. 'E had rabies from dat nasty ole dog on de river. Ah had tah shoot 'im. 'E couldn't keep no watah down an' de Docatah said 'e was fixin' tah die. Ah begged fah a cure an' 'e said 'e would try an' find one, but mah Tea Cake died anyhow. Ah got sent tah court fah shootin' 'im, even tho shootin' 'im wuz de hardest thang I've evah did in mah life. Dey knowed it was tah save mah own life so Ah got outta jail wit no trouble. Ah buried 'im in Palm Beach. Took me some seeds tah 'member 'im by. Ah'm home now, an' Ah feel 'im all de time.

Janie Mae Woods



Translation (in today's vernacular):

My Tea Cake is gone. He had rabies from that nasty old dog on the river. I had to shoot him. he couldn't keep any water down and the Doctor saud he was going to die. I begged him for a cure and he said he would try and get one but he died anyway. I got sent to court for shooting him, even though shooting him was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. They know it was to save my own life so I got out of jail with no trouble. I buried him in Palm Beach. I took some seeds to remember him by. I'm home now, and I feel him all the time.

Janie Mae Woods

De Floods

Tea Cake hit me now. Not enuff tah really hurt me, tho, 'e juss leaves some marks sometimes. An' of, how 'e pamupuhs me aftah!'E is so gentle lak and kind tah me. Ah love 'im somethin' awful. Especially when Ah almost lost 'im. De lake ran ovah an' flooded de muck. Me an' Tea Cake wuz almost trapped fah good. 'E saved me from a crazy ole dog an' gotta nasty bit on 'is face. Ah'm right grateful fah mah Tea Cake.

Janie Mae Woods



Trabslation (in todays vernacular):

Tea Cake hits me now. Not enough to really hurt me, though, he just leaves some marks sometimes. And oh, how he pampers me after! He is so gentle and kind to me. I love him so much, Especially when I almost lost him. The lake ran over and flooded the muck. Me and Tea Cake were almost trapped for good. he saved me from a crazy old dog and got a nasty bite on his face. I'm very grateful for my Tea Cake.

Janie Mae Woods

Doubtin'

Tea Cake been gettin' teased by some ugly rough woman called Nunkie. She be playin' wit 'im an' flirtin' right hard wit 'im! It hurts mah heart. An' 'e came in de house tryna tell me dat 'e don't love huh none. Ah'm tryna believe 'im. 'E tole me Ah'ma kinda woman tah make a man forgit to git old an' die. An' Ah believ 'im now. Ah do. But Mis' Turner, some ole busy body woman down in de much wit us, tryna make me doubt 'im. Ah was afraid at first dat 'e would leave me but now Ah know Ah got tah trust mah Tea Cake. Tea Cake don't lak huh none anyway

Janie Mae Woods



Translation (in today's vernacular):

Tea Cake has been being teased by some ugly rough woman named Nunkie. She plays with him and is flirting very hard with him! It hurts my heart. And he came in the house trying to tell me he didn't love her at all. I'm trying to believe him. He told me I'm the kind of woman who makes a man forget to get old and die. And I believe him now. But Mrs. Turner, a nosy woman who lives in the much with us, is trying to make me doubt him. I was afraid at first that he would leave me but now I know I have to trust Tea Cake. Tea Cake doesn't like her at all anyway.

Janie Mae Woods

Gettin' married...again

We got us married in Jacksonville. Both o' us in blue. This time Ah got it right. Ah know it. But aftah a while Tea Cake leff, an' Ah sho wuz worryin' bout 'im. An' 'e took all mah money! But 'e came back hurt, so Ah forgave 'im. 'E had $322 dollah in 'is pocket, and 'e had me put de $200 back where Ah had it. 'E said we gone live off  'is money, an' Ah agree wid 'im. We traveled on tah de muck down where everythang is flat an' got us some jobs. We happy, an' Ah know I done got it right dis time.

Janie Mae Crawford Hillicks Starks Woods



Translation (in today's vernacular):

We got married in Jacksonville. Both of us were in blue. This time I got it right. I know it. But after a while Tea Cake left, and I was worrying about him. Amd he took all my money! But he came back hurt, so I forgave him. He had $322 in his pocket, and he had me put the $200 back where I had it. he said we're going to live off his monwy, and I agree with him. We traveled to the much where everything is flat, and got jobs. We're happy, and I know I have gotten it right this time.

Janie Mae Crawford Hillicks Starks Woods

Begginin' Again

Ah wanna know mo' about dat Tea cake, but Ah's too ole an' 'e might be a fast tail lil boy. Ah was gonna be right cold tah 'im, but we got tah laffin' an' talkin', an' de next thang Ah know we eatin' pound cake an' drinkin' lemonade! Den de fool boy wanted tah go off an' fish! In de middle o' de night! So we had us some hot fish and co'n muffins too! An' he was ovah mah house talkin' bout mah lips, hair, and eyes so much Ah think 'e wish 'e had 'em! But now we's spendin' some time tagetha an' Ah aims tah run off wid 'im!

Janie Mae Starks




Translation (in today's vernacular):

I want to know more about that Tea Cakem but I'm too old and he might be a womanizer. I was going to be very cold to him, but we started laughing and talking and the next thing I know we're eating pound cake and drinking lemonade! Then the stupid boy wanted to go fishing! In the middle of the night! So we had some hot fish and corn muffins, too! And he was over my house talking about my lips, hair, and eyes so much I think he wish he had them! But now we're spending some time together and I am going to run off with him.

Janie Mae Starks

Meetin' Mist' Tea Cake

Ah went tah Jody's funeral. Ah wore mah mournin' clothes fah as long as mah greif lasted. Phoeby's tryna talk tah me about gettin' married again but Ah sho don't want tah. Ah'm enjoyin' mah freedom too much tah even be thankin' bout gettin' married tah  some man. But ah met me a man tahday. 'Is name is Tea Cake, but 'is momma named 'im Vergible Woods. Tole me tah call 'im Mist' Woods if Ah wanted but it's be mighty nice if Ah called 'im Tea Cake. So dat's what Ah'mma call 'im. We played us some checkers, drank some Cola, and had a right lot o' fun. It seems lak Ah known 'im all mah life.

Janie Mae Starks



Translation (in today's vernacular):

I went to Jody's funeral. I wore my mourning clothes for as long as my grief lasted. Phoeby is trying to talk em into getting married again, but I sure don't want to. I'm enjoying my freedom too much to even be thinking about getting married to some man. But I met a man today. His name is Tea Cake, but his momma named him Vergible Woods. He told me to call him Mr. Woods if I wanted to but it would be nice if I called him Tea Cake. So that's what I'm going to call him. We played checkers, drank Cola, and had a lot of fun. It seems like I've known him all my life.

Janie Mae Starks

Change is comin'

Ah's got no fight leff fah Jody. 'E done took it all outta me. The fool man is sick an' 'e don't want me tah help 'im none. A lil fake ole doctah keeps on comin' round and de man talks real quiet lak when Ah come round near 'im an' Jody. Ah'd rathah be dead than have Jody thank Ah'd hurt 'im. But thangs juss aint de same. De last thangs we said tah each othah was in a fight. 'E don't know me, an' kept on tryna crowd out mah own feelin's tah make room fah 'is! But bein' such a big man been a right heavy burden on 'im. Fah dat Ah pity 'im. I sho do.

Janie Mae Starks



Translation (In today's vernacular):

I have no fight left in me for Jody. He has taken it all out of me. The stupid man is sick and he doesn't want me to help him at all. A fake doctor keeps on coming around and the man talks very quietly when I come around near him and Jody. I'd rather be dead than have Jody think I'd hurt him. But things just aren't the same. The last things we said to each other was ina fight. He doesn't know me, and kept on trying to crowd out ym own feelings to make room for his! But being such an important man has been a burden on him. For that I pity him. I sure do.

Janie Mae Starks

Mah Jody be a mayuh now. When we got up in dat town uh Eatonville, dey didn't have no mayuh, an' so mah Jody held 'imself a meetin', an' told de peoples o' Eatonville dat 'e was aimin' to build a post office an' a sto' up in de town, an' 'e bought 200 acres o' land fah de whole town, an' befo' it was only 50 acres. Aftah everythang wuz all set up, Tayluh proposed de idea o' mah Jody bein' de town mayuh, an' everyone juss went along wid it! Ah was mighty proud o' mah new husband. But Ah wuz gonna make me a speech as de new Mayuh's wife, an' Jody didn't let me! But, Ah juss let it go, cuz Ah don't wanna start nothin' wid 'im aftah all 'e done. Den he went an' got de town a big ole street lamp, an' 'e had a big ole ceremony, but 'e sho didn't let me come! Jody is classin' me off, an' Ah juss don't like it. Ah aint got no real women tah talk tah. Jody keeps on buyin' me all dese fancy thangs,  like flowery spittin' pots an' the like, an' Ah don't thank de people in de town lak it too much. But aint nobody evah challengin' Jody, so Ah don't rightly know how dey feel bout all dis. Jody has me runnin' de sto', an' Ah don't lak it at all. An' tah top it all off, 'e makes me wear a head scarf everyday an' covah mah hair! An' ah lak mah hair, its rite nice! An' when de people are out an' talkin' bout the town mule an' thangs dat dey lak tah talk bout everyday, 'e gits right mad when Ah try an' join 'em. 'E bought dat ole mule fah 5 dollahs, an' when de thang died, the whole town, all 'cept fah me, went tah de funeral! An' lak always, Jody made me mind de sto'. Dat man dont nevah let me have no kinda fun!Tole me not tah mess around wid de trashy folks. Ah aint got no one tah talk tah! An' Jody was callin' me incompetent an' such when Ah didn't find some pig's feet fah some lady. But Ah didn't say nothin' back. Ah'm juss quiet now. But mo' offen den not Ah juss don't feel de same bout Jody as Ah used tah. We aint intimate no mo', an' Ah juss don't love 'im the way Ah once did. De man even hits me. Aftah a dinnah party didn't go so good, 'e juss reached out an' slapped me. Thangs is changin' now.
Janie Mae Starks



Translation (in today's vernacular):

My Jody is a mayor now. When we arrived in the town Eatonville, they didn't have a mayor, so my Jody held a meeting and told the people of Eatonville that he was going to build a post office and a store in the town, and he bought 200 acres of land for the whole town, and before it was only 50 acres. After everything was all set up, Taylor proposed the idea of Jody being mayor, and everyone just went along with it! I was very proud of my new husband. But I was going to make a speech as the new Mayor's new wife, and Jody didn't let me! But I let just let it go, because I don't want to start anything with him after all he's done. Then he got the town a big street lamp, and he had a big ceremony, but he didn't let me come! Jody is classing me off, and I don't like it. I don't have any real women to talk to. Jody keeps buying me all these fancy things, like flowery spitting pots and things of that nature, and I don't think the people in town like it too much. But no one ever challenges Jody, so I don't really know how they feel about all this. Jody has me running the store, and I don't like it at all. And to top it all off, he makes me wear a head scarf everyday to cover my hair! And I like my hair, it's very nice! And when people are out talking about the town mule and things that they talk about everyday, he gets very mad when I try and join them. He bought that old mule for 5 dollars, and when the thing died, the whole town, except for me, went to the funeral! And like always, Jody made me mind the store. That man doesn't ever let me have any kind of fun! And Jody was calling me incompetent and such when I couldn't find some pig's feet for some lady. But I didn't say anything back. I'm just quiet now. I more often than not I just don't feel the same about Jody as I used to. We aren't intimate anymore, and I just don't love him the way I once did. The man even hits me. After a dinner party didn't go so well, he just reached out and slapped me. Things are changing now.

Janie Mae Starks

Marry one; an' den anotha.

Ah married 'im. Ah married dat ugly Mist' Hillicks, an' Ah wish Ah didn't. 'E is right mean an' don't luv me none, Ah kin tell. We married an' it was right beautiful, though. Nanny an' huh friends wuz cookin' an' we had a good 3 cakes an' a right big lot o' chicken an' rabbit. It was gud, an' Ah took it as uh good sign fah mah marriage but Ah was wrong. Marraiage sho don't make no love. An' mah Nanny is dead an' gone. I sho do miss huh. But Ah  juss don't love Logan none. Ah sho wish Ah did, then Ah'd feel bettah, but Ah don't. Dat's why Ah'm goin' off wid mah Jody. Tole me tah call 'im dat, 'e did. When Ah axed Logan what wud 'e wud do if Ah got up an' leff 'im, 'e juss hollad at me an' tole me wouldn't nobody want me an' whoevah did wuz juss lyin' tah mah face. It don't even make me sad, though. Ah nevah loved 'im, an' all dat 'e hollad at me fah caint be changed, so Ah won't even waste no time thinkin' on it. Ah met Jody out on de cornah an' he picked me up in a hired rig, an' we got ourselves married in some new clothes! Love don't equal marriage, and marriage don't equal love, but Ah sho do think dat wid Jody Ah can get me both!

Janie Mae Crawford Hillicks Starks!


Translation (In today's vernacular)

I married him. I married that ugly Mister Hillicksm and I wish I didn't. He is very mean, and doesn't love me at all, I can tell. We married and it was very beautiful, though. Nanny and her friends were cooking and we had 3 cakes and a lot of chicken and rabbit. It was good, and I took it as a good sign for my marriage, but I was wrong. Marriage sure doesn't equal love. And my Nanny is dead and gone. I sure do miss her. But I just don't love Logan at all. I sure wish I did, then I'd feel better, but I don't. That's why I'm going off with my Jody. He told me to call him that, he did. When I asked Logan what he would do if I left him, he just yelled at me and told me no one would want me, and whoever did was just lying to my face. It dosn't even make me sad, though. I never loved him anyway, and all that he yelled at me for can't be changed, so I won't even watse any time thinking about it. I met Jody out on the corner and he picked me up in a hired rig, and we married in new clothes! Love doesn't ewual marriage, and marraige doesn't equal love, but I sure do think that with Jody I can have both!

Janie Mae Crawford Hillicks Starks!

Back to de beginnin', tellin' mah story

 Nanny is fixin'  tuh die an' tole me she had tuh git me married right quick so Ah cud git mahself a gud man tuh take gud care uh me.  So Ah will. Ah am marryin' Mist' Logan Hillicks soon. Fo' Nanny gone an' dies, she wanna see me married off, really see it, wid huh own two eyes.She saw Johnny Taylor an' me kissin' undah de pear tree amongst de flowahs an' thangs, an' got it in huh head tuh do it. Ah don't want mah Nanny dyin' wid a heavy heart so Ah'mma do it, an' Ah'll fall in love wid Mist' Hillicks, juss wait. Ah will. Ah will. Nanny don't want me tuh be like mah momma, an' waste mah life cuz mah momma went off drankin' an' nevah came back. An' aftah all de sac'fices mah Nanny done went an' made, Ah cain't just gone off an' do wat eveah Ah feel lak doin'. So, Ah'll marry Mist' Hillicks an' start mah life.

Janie Mae Crawford (Soon tah be Hillicks)






Translation (In today's vernacular):

Nanny is going to die, and she told me she had to have me married quickly so I can get a goos man to take good care of me. So I will. I am marrying Mister Logan Hillicks soon. Before Nanny dies, she wants to see me marry, really see it, with her own two eyes. She saw Johnny Taylor and I kissing under the pear tree and got the idea. I don't want my Nanny dying with a heavy heart, so I will do it, and I'll fall in love with Mister Hillicks, just wait. I will. I will. Nanny doesn't want me to be like my mother and waste my life because my mother went off drinking and never came back. And after all the sacrifices Nanny has made, I just can't do whatever I feel like doing. So I'll marry Mister Hillicks and start my life.

Janie Mae Crawford (Soon to be Hillicks)