Bathsheba

Bathsheba was admired by all, a kind of tribal queen,
for she had classic beauty and her wit was very keen.
She and Moluss, her husband, lived in Indian Mills, a place
reserved by Federal government for people of their race
who came from all directions to live amongst their peers,
who took their livings from the land, as they had done for years.

In late Spring, when corn was planted, they then began their tour
Eastward thru' the pinewoods' trail as they trekked toward the Shore.
Moluss and wife would head for Barnegat along the bay.
In a nearby woods they'd build a hut, where they would stay.

There, they'd pick wild beach plums and gather basket wood.
They'd tread for clams, catch oysters, and sun dry all they could.
They'd cram their guts, but always they would put a portion by,
returning home for Winter, they would take a good supply.

A settler, Eli Collins, told how he'd walked out one day,
heading home, stopped in the hut of Moluss on the way.
Bathsheba stirred a kettle, it was full of sav'ry soup;
she took a gourd and clamshell, and dipped for him a scoop.

Collins took a taste; his walk had whet his appetite,
when suddenly an object loomed suspicious to his sight.
At his questioning glance, Bathsheba grinned from ear to ear,
but it was her next action that made his belly feel so queer.
I'm certain that she thought his action no cause for alarm,
when she made short hops with her fingers on her other arm.

Now, hoptoads were ingredients he didn't desire to eat.
In his most gallant manner, he made a quick retreat.
Bathsheba's tribe, the Lenapes, were generous to share
with early settlers who were mostly grateful for the fare.
But when they cooked the famine foods they ate when times were poor,
that seemed to be when settlers just weren't hungry anymore.

- Lillian Arnold Lopez "Pineylore"

HOME