Days Like These

Ain’t no place I’d ruther be

Days like these when yew kin see

Hazy color in the air

An’ a ca’mness everywhere,

Than along the Crick, by jo,

Where the alder’s hangin’ low;

Where the shadders dance an’ play

Ev’ry time the branches sway.

O the happerness an’ ease

Round ol’ Lizzard days like these!

Turkles sunnin’ on the logs,

Frogs cavortin’ in the bogs;

Muskrats swimmin’ up the Crick,

Perch an’ dace an’ shiners thick;

Fish-hawks sailin’ in the sky

Watchin’ where the pick’rel lie.

Honey bees amongst the flowers

While away the summer hours;

Birds a-singin’ on the trees –

O the joy uv days like these!

Days like these! Waal I dunno

Jest how ‘tis they ha’nt me so;

Spose it’s cuz my heart is set

On thet Crick an’ woodlan’ yet.

On ol’ Lizzard shinin’ there

Like a jewel rich an’ rare.

Ain’t no place I’d ruther be

On this planet, no siree;

Ain’t no time a feller sees

‘At comes up to days like these!

July 28, 1901

Pub. in “Judge”

Nov. 2, 1901