MOST ontimely old man yit! 'Pear-like sometimes he jest @3tries@1 His fool-self, and takes the bitt In his teeth and jest de-fies All perpryties! -- Lay and swet Doin' @3nothin'@1 -- only jest Sorto' speckillatun on Whare old summer-times is gone, And 'bout things that he loved best When a youngster! Heerd him say @3Spring-times@1 made him thataway -- Speshully on @3Sund'ys@1 -- when Sun shines out and in again, And the lonesome old hens they Git off under the old kern- Bushes, and in deep concern @3Talk-like to theyrselves,@1 and scratch Kindo' absunt-minded, jest Like theyr thoughts was fur away In some neghbor's gyarden-patch Folks has tended keerfulest! Heerd the old man dwell on these Idys time and time again! -- Heerd him claim that orchurd-trees Bloomin', put the mischief in His old hart sometimes that bad And owdacious that he "@3had@1 To break loose @3someway,@1" says he, "Ornry as I ust to be!" Heerd him say one time -- when I Was a sorto' standin' by, And the air so still and clear, Heerd the bell fer church clean here! -- Said: "Ef I could climb and set On the old three-cornerd rail Old home-place, nigh Maryette', Swap my soul off, hide and tale!" And-sir! blame ef tear and laugh Didn't ketch him half and half! "Oh!" he says, "to wake and be Barefoot, in the airly dawn In the pastur'! -- thare," says he, "Standin' whare the cow's slep' on The cold, dewy grass that's got @3Print@1 of her jest steamy hot Fer to warm a feller's heels In a while! -- How good it feels! Sund'y! -- Country! -- Morning! -- Hear Nothin' but the @3silunce@1 -- see Nothin' but green woods and clear Skies and unwrit poetry By the acre! . . . Oh!" says he, "What's this voice of mine? -- to seek To speak out, and yit @3can't@1 speak! "@3Think!@1 -- the lazyest of days" -- Takin' his contrairyest leap, He went on, -- "git up, er sleep -- Er whilse feedin', watch the haze Dancin' crost the wheat, -- and keep My pipe goin' leisurely -- Puff and whiff as pleases me, -- Er I'll leave a trail of smoke Through @3the house!@1 -- no one'll say @3'Throw that nasty thing away!'@1 'Pear-like nothin' sacerd's broke, Goin' barefoot ef I chuse! -- I @3have fiddled;@1 -- and dug bait And @3went fishin';@1 -- pitched hoss-shoes -- Whare they couldn't see us from The main road. -- And I've @3beat@1 some. I've set round and had my joke With the thrashers at the barn -- And I've swapped 'em yarn fer yarn! -- Er I've he'pped the childern poke Fer hens'-nests -- agged on a match 'Twixt the boys, to watch 'em scratch And paw round and rip and tare, And bu'st buttons and pull hair To theyr rompin' harts' content -- And me jest a-settin' thare Hatchin' out more devilment! "What you s'pose now ort to be Done with sich a man?" says he -- "Sich a fool-old-man as me!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CYMON AND IPHIGENIA by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO ALL THAT'S PAST by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE A LOVE IDYLL by ANNA CORNELIA BOWEN I WOULD I COULD DANCE by HELEN M. BROUGH SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 42 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |