“Lizzard Crick Poems” - Wish Tur Goodness

Wish tur goodness I could skin

Out uv this here city’s din;

Way frum these ‘ere walls er brick,

Down tur dear ol’ Lizzard Crick;

Wish tur goodness ‘at I could;

Do my heart an’ soul some good.

Place roun’ here is gooder ‘nough

Tur buy trinkets an’ sech stuff;

Buy a later style uv hat,

‘N’ fresher peanuts an’ aller that;

But fur reel ol’ happerness,

Unnerdulterated bliss;

Joys an’ pleasures fast an’ thick,

Gimme dear ol’ Lizzard Crick!

Fishin’ roun’ here can’t compare

With the fishin’ git down ‘ere;

Settin’ orner wharf ain’t like

Settin’ orner a mossy dike

With your toes a swishin’ roun’

Where the current frolics down.

Ain’t no whipperwills roun’ here;

Ain’t no katy-dids tur cheer;

Ain’t no tree tuds singin’ low

In the twilight’s meller glow;

Ain’t no frawgs tur pipe an’ sing

“Jugger-rum,” or some sech thing.

Wish tur goodness Uncle Dick

Lived ‘ere now on Lizzard Crick;

But he’s gone, an’ strangers now

Use the farm mos’ anyhow.

Don’t suppose they keer at all

‘Bout the brook nor waterfall;

Nor thet ingin hut uv mine

Built uv bean-poles, out uv line!

But I’ve gotter plan, an’ when

Bank book it ez big ergen,

I’ll slip down ‘ere mighty quick,

‘N’ buy ‘at farm an’ Lizzard Crick!

May 9, ‘94

Pub. in Boston Courier,

Jan. 27, 1895