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A.NK BYRD
"HOMEY, THE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT MAN'
The 135 Street block between Lenox and Seventh Avenues is one of the
most thickly populated in Harlem. Of a late Summer afternoon the place
is a squalidly -picturesque sight with hosewives leaning out of the windows,
raged, unkempt little dusky skinned urchins playing carelessly in the street,
vegetable men hawking their wares, "corn (liquor) salesmen walking up and
dawn the block with their kitchen manufactured intoxicating beverages weight-
ing dawn their persons, all day party goers whooping it up in the upstairs
buffet flats and the music machines going full blast far into the night.
"Homey', the vegetable men comes through the block every afternoon
about one or two o'clock. Seldom does he vary from this schedule, and
his daily visit is eagerly looked forward to by the buxom, colorful
housewives. Eemoyls song is vaguely reminiscent of one known as the
"I Got Ua Nan", previously turned in by this worker. The tune is a
little different, however, and even Eaasy, himself, is not certain what
theme the lyrics will follow from day to day. But the following is
typical of his long drawn -oat sing -song wail:
"Ah cot green peas for duh baby,
Got cabbage for duh 011 lady-ee
Got string beans for duh 01/ man..en.nn.n.!
The next day his song will probably take this turn:
Got blackberries today fo'kel Blackberries for duh baby
Blackberries for duh 01/ lady, Elackberries for duh oll mans
Then he/11 pause and say:
"If you ain't got no ol' nnn, take me.'
.FRorAN BYRD
-2-
The women, their vanity tickled by this little amorous sally,
will giggle and buy an extra pound of potatoes or cabbace. Homey
is a born salesman when it comes to the indica. He can always think
of something to catch or stimulate their interest.