I USETER run wit' Patsy Shay W'en him an' I wuz small, But since he's got religion, say! He's proud as hellenall! Dey wuz a time w'en him an' I Wuz twins in dese here scenes, An' useter rob, an' cuss, an' lie, Like reg'lar human bein's. W'en him an' I wuz nine or so We owned de world, we did, But den somebody had ter go An' spoil de bloomin' kid; An' now he never chums wit' me Or shows up hereabout -- Oh, things ain't like dey useter be Since Patsy Shay's a scout. Four years ago, w'en we wuz eight, We up an' run away, An' watched a chanct ter hop a freight Ter see de U. S. A. We made it up ter go out West -- Where bears an' cowboys grew An' Indians an' all the rest -- An' we'd of done it, too; But some one must of told a cop About our little game, Because he come an' made us stop -- Gee! Wuzn' 'at a shame? We said w'en we wuz twelve we meant Ter go, wit'out a doubt, But now de time has came an' went -- An' Patsy Shay's a scout! I seen dis Patsy yisterd'y, A-marchin' past our court. An' hully chee! he seemed ter be A reg'lar Christian sport. A soldier hat wuz on 'is bean, An' big shoes on 'is feet An' all de fixin's in between Wuz fancy an' complete; A kid's-size suit o' army clo'es, A watch stuck on 'is wrist, A hankercher ter blow 'is nose -- Oh, nothin' wuzn' missed. He useter be my chum, but, say, De worl's toined inside out, An' now he seems so fur away Since Patsy Shay's a scout. I wouldn' mind if some one come An' made me Christian, too. Dis life I lead is purty bum; I'm game fur som'pin new. I hear dese guys is out fur coin, An' if dey raise enough I guess a lot o' kids will join Dat onct wuz mighty tough. I ain't a-sayin' I'll be one; I'm twelve years old, yer see, An' I ain't on'y jist begun To feel me oats, b'chee! But if dey git some coin to spend An' want ter fit me out, I'll try ter be deir little friend -- Since Patsy Shay's a scout. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BUGLER'S FIRST COMMUNION by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS INDIAN SUMMER (2) by JOHN BANISTER TABB WATER TOWER AT WALDO by DAISY MARITA BISHOP THE THEATRE-CURTAIN by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH SHANAHAN'S OULD QUEEN by GERALD BRENNAN |