Riley Farm-Rhymes

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. Bluejay, full o' sass,
         In them base-ball clothes o' his,
     Sportin' round the orchard jes'
     Like he owned the premises!
         Sun out in the fields kin sizz,
     But flat on yer back, I guess,
         In the shade's where glory is!
     That's jes' what I'd like to do
     Stiddy fer a year er two!

     VI

     Plague! ef they ain't somepin' in
     Work 'at kindo' goes ag'in'
       My convictions!—'long about
         Here in June especially!—
         Under some old apple-tree,
         Jes' a-restin' through and through
       I could git along without
         Nothin' else at all to do
         Only jes' a-wishin' you
     Wuz a-gittin' there like me,
     And June was eternity!

     VII

     Lay out there and try to see
     Jes' how lazy you kin be!—
          Tumble round and souse yer head
     In the clover-bloom, er pull
            Yer straw hat acrost yer eyes
            And peek through it at the skies,
         Thinkin' of old chums 'at's dead,
              Maybe, smilin' back at you
     In betwixt the beautiful
             Clouds o' gold and white and blue.
     Month a man kin railly love
     June, you know, I'm talkin' of!

     VIII

     March ain't never nothin' new!
     Aprile's altogether too
       Brash fer me! and May—I jes'
       'Bominate its promises,
     Little hints o' sunshine and
     Green around the timber-land—
       A few blossoms, and a few
         Chip-birds, and a sprout er two,—
         Drap asleep, and it turns in
         'Fore daylight and SNOWS ag'in!—
     But when JUNE comes—Clear my th'oat
       With wild honey!—Rench my hair
     In the dew! and hold my coat!
         Whoop out loud! and th'ow my hat!—
       June wants me, and I'm to spare!
       Spread them shadders anywhere,
       I'll git down and waller there,
         And obleeged to you at that!