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Riley, James Whitcomb, 1849-1916

"Riley Farm-Rhymes"


Le's go a-visitin' back to Griggsby's Station--
Back where they's nothin' aggervatin' any more,
Shet away safe in the woods around the old location--
Back where we ust to be so happy and so pore!
I want to see Marindy and he'p her with her sewin',
And hear her talk so lovin' of her man that's dead and
gone,
And stand up with Emanuel to show me how he's
growin',
And smile as I have saw her 'fore she putt her mournin'
on.
And I want to see the Samples, on the old lower eighty,
Where John, our oldest boy, he was tuk and burried
--for
His own sake and Katy's,--and I want to cry with Katy
As she reads all his letters over, writ from The War.
What's in all this grand life and high situation,
And nary pink nor hollyhawk a-bloomin' at the door?--
Le's go a-visitin' back to Griggsby's Station--
Back where we ust to be so happy and so pore!


KNEE-DEEP IN JUNE

I

Tell you what I like the best--
'Long about knee-deep in June,
'Bout the time strawberries melts
On the vine,--some afternoon
Like to jes' git out and rest,
And not work at nothin' else'

II

Orchard's where I'd ruther be--
Needn't fence it in fer me!--
Jes' the whole sky overhead,
And the whole airth underneath--
Sorto' so's a man kin breathe
Like he ort, and kindo' has
Elbow-room to keerlessly
Sprawl out len'thways on the grass
Where the shadders thick and soft
As the kivvers on the bed
Mother fixes in the loft
Allus, when they's company!

III

Jes' a-sorto' lazin' there--
S'lazy, 'at you peek and peer
Through the wavin' leaves above,
Like a feller 'at's in love
And don't know it, ner don't keer!
Ever'thing you hear and see
Got some sort o' interest--
Maybe find a bluebird's nest
Tucked up there conveenently
Fer the boy 'at's ap' to be
Up some other apple-tree!
Watch the swallers skootin' past
'Bout as peert as you could ast,
Er the Bob-white raise and whiz
Where some other's whistle is

IV

Ketch a shadder down below,
And look up to find the crow--
Er a hawk,--away up there,
'Pearantly FROZE in the air!--
Hear the old hen squawk, and squat
Over ever' chick she's got,
Suddent-like!--and she knows where
That-air hawk is, well as you!--
You jes' bet yer life she do!--
Eyes a-glitterin' like glass,
Waitin' till he makes a pass!

V

Pee-wees' singin', to express
My opinion, 's second class,
Yit you'll hear 'em more er less;
Sapsucks gittin' down to biz,
Weedin' out the lonesomeness;
Mr.


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