Leeches

When I wuz jesser leetle chap,

     A-hatin’ slate an’ book;

I yewster wade eroun’ an’ ketch

     Them leeches in the brook.

And now becuz I didn’t read

     An’ study I kin see,

Sence strikin’ eout frum home they hez

     Leeches ketchin’ me.

March 4, 1895

Pub. in Boston

Courier, March

17, 1895