The Good Old Cures

(Roots and herbs favored again. Physicians said to have tendency to abandon compounds and favor old time remedies)

I like the good old songs the best,

     I like the good old folks;

I like the good old atmosphere,

     And like the good old jokes.

And now the doctors one and all,

     At least the papers say,

Are going to cure their patients’ ills

     The good old fashioned way.

To rhubarb, peppermint and dock

     We raise our new shappo;

To sage and composition tea

     We knew so long ago.

On dandelion and thrumwort,

     We place our roll today;

We hail the roots and herbs that cure

     The good old fashioned way.

So start your hop beds up again,

     And let your catnip grow;

And dig your swamp root from the swamp

     As you did long ago.

Brew on your stove the boneset tea

     You relished childhood’s day,

We’re going to cure new fashioned ills

     The good old fashioned way.

May 9, ‘10

                                           Thrumwort - Amaranthus caudatus; velvet flower or love-lies-bleeding.