A Brave Little Soldier

I’ve just been readin’ hist’ry, all about heroic days;

About the soldiers fightin’, an’ the injun’s wicked ways.

About the British an’ the Yanks who fought at Bunker Hill,

An’ how the North an’ South stood ground, as only soldiers will.

I tell you men was mighty brave, an’ mighty darin’ then,

An’ I just wish ‘at I was big as all the other men.

I’d like to fight with guns an’ swords, an’ be a soldier too,

Right in the thickest of the fight, hurrah! Now wouldn’t you?

What’s that you say? I didn’t hear? O, yes, I did forget;

To shut the chickens up, mamma, but I will do it yet,

Dear ‘suz, it’s dark. My! what was ‘at? It give me such a fright,

I can’t – boo hoo – shut up the hens – ‘less some one holds a light!”

Oct. 11, ‘96

Pub. in Sunday World,

April 18, ‘97