He Went To Sleep

Erastus Wilson Peters Brown,

He was the sleepiest man in town;

He wouldn’t work, his neighbors tell,

Because he liked to sleep so well.

He’d sleep all night, and thro’ the day

He’d yawn and sleep and yawn away;

“Can’t-work-fur-yew-today,” said he,

“I’ve-got-tur-take-a-nap-yew-see,”

     And so he went to sleep.

He fell in love with Sallie Hall,

Or thought he did, and went to call.

He found her on the sofa where

He sat himself with utmost care;

“Now-Sallie,” he began to say

In his old lazy, sleepy way:

“I-love-you-and-I-er-I-er-”

And ere he’d really popped to her

     He went to sleep.

Jim Fuller met him on the street

And in a tone polite and sweet

Reminded him about a ten

He’d owed him since “the laud knows when”.

Erastus yawned and said, “Say-Jim,”

And that was all he said to him –

     He went to sleep.

Erastus Wilson Peters Brown,

He died one day upon the town.

His spirit reached Saint Peter’s door

As tired and sleepy as of yore.

St. Peter threw the portals wide

To which the sleepy ghost replied

“Just-wait-until-I’ve-had-a-nap-

And-then-I’ll-enter-in-mayhap-”

     And so he went to sleep.

Jan. 28, ‘07