Rhyme An’ Melerdy

Poet I am boun’ ter be,

Full uv rhyme an’ melerdy;

If there’s sech a thing as fame,

I will hitch it to my name.

Let the worl’ do what it will,

My ambitions all to kill,

Let all critics douse me o’er,

Icy water on me pour,

Let ‘em wash me to the sea,

They can’t drown my melerdy.

Rhyme will be my gallant ship,

Melerdy will be her trip.

Thus we’ll haunt thur sea uv life

Harmonizin’ all its strife;

Takin’ here an’ there a prize

Through ther straits ter paradise.

All of Satan’s mighty fleet,

Armored, stanch an’ crew complete,

Kennot silence any time

My rich melerdy an’ rhyme.

For my daily purpose is

Singin’ down perplexities.

But I hev a trouble too,

Thet I kennot quite undo;

An’ it iis thet none but me

See my rhyme an’ melody.

Jan. 30, ‘92
Pub. in Conn. Valley Advertiser