Winter

Winter is a rough ol’ chap,

Give yer face a smartin’ slap,

An’ yer nose a spiteful pinch,

But you musn’ dodge ner flinch.

Make yer draw yer long neck in

Like a frightened terrerpin;

Yes, a rough chap winter is,

Full uv bluster and uv blizz.

But the power is given us

Tew withstan’ his blunderbuss;

Fer we wrap frum crown ter shins

Up in wollens, furs an’ skins.

No it is in other woes,

All our daily slaps an’ blows

Kin be lessened if we will

Keep away frum all that’s ill.

Satan’s messin’ winter is,

Pokin’ in our buzzinezz;

But we hev the power, jes’

Tew withstan’ his cussedness.

An’ we needn’ dodge ner flinch

W’en he tries ter prick an’ pinch;

Ef we have Faith in our soul,

We kin put him in his hole.

Feb. 23, ‘94

Pub. in Conn. Valley Ad.

March 3, ‘94