Farm Fancies

The grass shoots from its earthworks now,

     The bud are taking leave;

The trout is scaling waterfalls

     To lure and to deceive.

The treetoad bullies at the frog,

     Down in its lowland home;

The honey bee now parts its hair

     With its own honey comb.

The slaughtered calf re-veals itself,

     The shad is bony-fide;

The root beer’s taking on an edge

     That takes the countryside.

The dandy lion springs up again,

     The cow slips on the lea;

The cat-ails brush along the fence,

     Bored feels the maple tree.

The crow-cuss greets the early dawn,

     The hen is very set,

The stream, a bold and fearless brook,

     Its waterloo has met.

And from the pieplant near the well,

     The farmer picks his pies;

While round the busy dairy bench

     The golden butterflies.

April 19, 1897
Pub. in Puck,
May 26, ‘97
#1055