May

I’m allus glad when it is May,

     Bright May when all the birds come back;

Best time uv all the year, I say,

When snow an’ chill hez passed away,

An’ Natur’ decks in bright array,

     The fields an’ woods an’ vine-clad shack.

“Jim” Riley he is stuck on June,

“Knee-deep in June,” he lows, fur him.

June’s good, uv course, seems good once more

To see the roses climb the door,

Or tramp the daisy pastures o’er

     Down to the Crick an’ take a swim.

But May! May is the time fur me,

     When ev’rything is fresh an’ gay;

No other time o’ year you’ll see,

Sech greens ez May gives bush an’ tree,

An’ fragrance? Why, it’s my idee

     That He’ven itself can’t discount May!

April 27, ‘09

May

I’m allus glad when it is May,

     Bright May when all the birds come back;

Best time uv all the year, I say,

When snow an’ chill hez passed away,

An’ Natur’ decks in bright array,

     The fields an’ woods an’ vine-clad shack.

“Jim” Riley he is stuck on June,

“Knee-deep in June,” he ‘lows, fur him.

June’s good, uv course, seems good once more

To see the roses climb the door,

Or tramp the daisy pastures o’er

     Down to the Crick an’ take a swim.

But May! May is the time fur me,

     When ev’rything is fresh an’ gay;

No other time o’ year you’ll see,

Sech greens ez May gives bush an’ tree,

An’ fragrance? Why, it’s my idee

     That Hea’ven itself can’t discount May!

April 27, ‘09

   Published as ‘Welcome, May’ in Jocosities, May 1, 1909