Spring On The “Crick”

“Lizzard Crick” hez never seemed,

In the thousand dreams I’ve dreamed,

Ez she seems to me today;

Bein’ ez I’ve been away

Frum her graciousness so long,

Frum her ripple an’ her song.

Lays here smilin’ in the sun,

Welcome smiles fur everyone!

Seems so good to wander back

Frum the noisy, beaten track

Uv the busy world bey’end

Smile or handshake uv a friend,

An’ to drop round hereabout

When the leaves are comin’ out,

An’ the Crick is changin’ hue

From a chilly black to blue.

Tell you what it seems to me

I would ruther like to be

Jest a dull ol’ turkle there

Sunnin’ in the balmy air;

Nothin’ in the world to do

But to laze the hull day through

With ol’ Lizzard furnishing

Food an’ clothes an’ ev’rything!

Fishin’ days are drawin’ nigh;

You kin read it in the sky.

Sun is pokin’ in an’ out

Nooks an’ corners round about,

Bringin’ joy to ev’rything;

Fish a-swim an’ birds awing.

An’ ol’ “Lizzard” joins the throng

With her ripple an’ her song.

April 17, 1908