W.H. Auden
Stagolee
Oxford Book of Light Verse — 1938
W.H. Auden's Oxford Book of Light Verse was first published in 1938 as part of the prestigious Oxford University Press series of poetry anthologies. It is an anthology of English light verse, which is characterized by wit, humor, and playfulness, often focusing on satire or amusing social commentary rather than serious or emotional themes.
W.H. Auden was an acclaimed poet in his own right, and his sensibilities influenced his selections for the anthology. He took a broad and sometimes unconventional approach to "light verse," not limiting himself strictly to humorous or satirical poems but also including verse that was playful in form or tone. Auden's version is known for its eclectic mix, bringing in both traditional and more modern voices.
Auden's decision to include Stagolee reflects his broad understanding of what could be considered "light" verse, recognizing that folk traditions and ballads, with their unique wit, irony, and storytelling, were as significant to the literary tradition as more classical forms of light poetry. The tale's inclusion underscores its importance in American folk culture and its relevance to literary and cultural studies.
Stagolee
Stagolee, he was a bad man, an’ ev’body know, He toted a stack-barreled blow gun an’ a blue steel 44. Way down in New Orlean’, called de Lyon club, Ev’y step you walking you walkin’ in Billy Lyon blood. It was early one mornin’ when I heard my little dog bark, Stagolee and Billy Lyon was arg’in’ in de dark. Stagolee and Billy Lyon was gamblin’ one night late, Stagolee fell seven, Billy Lyon, he fell cotch eight. Slowly Stack walked from de table, he said, “I can’t let you go wid dat. You win all of my money an’ my milk-white Stetson hat.” Stagolee, he went walkin’ right down dat I.C. track, “I am’ gonna hurt you now, Billy, bet’ not be here when I get back!” Next day Stack went runnin’ in de red-hot broilin’ sun, “Look in my chiffro drawer, Alberta, han’ me my smokeless 41«” Alberta looked at Stack, said, “Babe, you all out of breath, You look like you gonna be de cause of somebody’s death.” Stack took out his Elgin, looked direc’ly at de time, “I got an argument to settle wid dat bad man, Billy Lyon.” “Kiss me, good woman, you may not see me when I come back.” And Stack went runnin’ up dat Great Northern track. Well, he got outside in front of de barroom, an’ he eased up to de door, Billy Lyon had his 44 special, pacin’ up an’ down de floor. Billy Lyon began to scream, “Stack, don’t take my life, I’ve got five lil helpless chilluns an’ one po’ pitiful wife.” He shot him three times in the forehead an’ two times in de side, Said, “I’m goin’ keep on shootin’ till Billy Lyon died.” Billy Lyon got glassy, an’ he gapped an’ hung his head, Stack say, “I know by expression on his face dat Billy Lyon dead.” Mrs. Billy she went runnin’ an’ screamin’: “Stack, I don’ b’lieve it’s so. You an’ my lil Billy been frien’s since many long years ago.” Stagolee tol’ Mrs. Billy, “Ef you don’t b’lieve yo’ man is dead, Come to de barroom, see de hole I shot in his head.” Mrs. Lyon fell to her knees, an’ she said to her oldes’ son, “When you git lil bit bigger, gonna buy you a 41.” “Mama, mama, oh, mama, you sho ain’t talkin’ to me, He killed po’ papa, now you gonna let him kill me.” It was early one mornin’, Stagolee looked at de clouds an’ say, “Baby, it look mighty cloudy, it mus’ be my jedgment day.” Chief Maloney tol’ his deputies: “Git yo’ rifles an’ come wid me, We got to arres’ dat bad nigger, Stagolee.” Oh, de deputies took dey shiny badges, an’ dey laid ’em on de shelf, “Ef you wants dat nigger, go git him by yo’ own damn self.” Slowly Chief Maloney, he walked to de barroom door, Po’ Stagolee was drunk an’ layin’ on de barroom floor. Chief Maloney said to de bartender, “Who kin dat drunk man be?” “Speak softly,” said de bartender. “It’s dat bad nigger Stagolee.” Chief Maloney touch Stack on de shoulder, say, “Stack, why don’ you run?” “I don’t run, white folks, when I got my 41.” Stagolee, he tried to get up, staggered, pulled his pistol, could not get it out Chief Maloney pulled his pistol, shot de po’ boy in de mouth. Stagolee,he went runnin’ an’ st’agglin’ down Dumaine Street, Boy, don’ you know de blood was runnin’ from his head down to his feet. De jedge, he found Stack guilty, de clerk, he wrote it down, Nex’ col’ winter mornin’ Stack was Angola bound. It was early one mornin’, one bright summer day, Chief Maloney ‘ceived a wireless—Stack had runned away. Chief Maloney got his men, an’ he put dem roun’ de town, “Nex’ time you see Stagolee, be sho to shoot him down.” De hangman put de mask on, tied his han’s behin’ his back, Sprung de trap on Stagolee, but his neck refused to crack. Hangman, he got frightened, he said: “Chief, you see how it be, I cain’ hang this man, you better let him go free.” Chief Maloney said to de hangman, “Befo’ I’d let him go alive— ” He up wid his police special an’ shot him six times in de side.” All de mans dey shouted, but de womens put on black an’ mourned Dat de good man Stagolee has laid down, died, an’ gone. Dey come a-slippin’ an’ a-slidin’ up an’ down de street, In deir big mother hubbards an’ deir stockin’ feet. He had a three-hundred-dollar funeral and a thousand-dollar hearse, Satisfaction undertaker put him six feet under earth. When de devil wife see Stack comin’ she got up in a quirl,— “Here come dat bad nigger an’ he’s jus’ from de udder worl’.” All de devil’ little chillun went sc’amblin’ up de wall, Say, “Catch him, pappa, befo’ he kill us all.” Stack he tol’ de devil, “Come on, le’s have a lil fun, You stick me wid yo’ pitchfork an’ I’ll shoot you wid my 41.” Stagolee say, “Now, now, Mister Devil, ef me an’ you gonna have some fun, You play de cornet, Black Betty beat de drum.” Stagolee took de pitchfork an’ he laid it on de shelf— “Stand back, Tom Devil, I’m gonna rule Hell by myself.”