Shina Da Shoe

Da girla she come evra day,

She smila each time as she say:

     “Tomasso, I wanta da shine,

     You do eet so awfulla fine,

I hope you are wella today.”

She step in da chair lika sprite

She nice, so pretta, polite,

     I bow an’ I blush,

     I taka my brush,

An’ pulla da cutain so tight.

     Ah! I lika for shina her shoe,

     An’ heara da peeka-da-boo;

            No lika for shina da man

            He weara da bigga brogan,

     An’ he taka a long time to do.

She worka da styleesh, beeg store,

She counta dam on from each floor.

     She tipa me too,

     For shina her shoe,

An’ smila good by at da door.

Weesh I was ‘Merican chap,

I maka love for her perhap;

     But I only Dago

     For shina sho, so

I gotta but “ha-ha” weeth slap.

     Ah! I lika for shina her shoe,

     Her stockin’ ees soft pala blue;

            No lika for shina da man

            He weara da bigga brogan,

     An’ no smila nor tipa me too.

May 2, 1908