A Matter Of Pronunciation

They sat within the parlor dim,

     The hour was very late;

She yawned and sighed, but still he sat

     Unconscious of her state.

He talked of love, and talked of war,

     Regretting he was poor;

He longed to fight for freedom, “for”

     Said he, “I am a Boor”.

She saw her opportunity,

     And wanted nothing more;

“Excuse me, sir,” she quickly said,

     “You mean you are a Boer”.

Jan. 23, 1900

(The Boers [Dutch] were fighting the British for South Africa)