“Lizard Crick Poems” - When A Feller Stubs His Toe

Now, when a feller stubs his toe,

An’ drives it back an inch or so,

What is the use fur folks tur say

In that unfeelin’ sort uv way,

“O, shaw! ‘twon’t hurt you by an’ by;

‘Twon’t help it, any, bub, tur cry.”

Now when a feller stubs his toe,

Like lots uv fellers does I know,

‘Twon’t hurt yeou ha’f ez much tur fall

Wite down an’ hev a proper squall;

‘Twon’t hurt you ha’f ez much ez ‘twould

Tur shet yer teeth an’ say’t felt good.

Them folks ‘at say, “‘ere, bub, don’t cry,

‘Twon’t hurt you any by an’ by,”

Don’t know much how a feller’d feel

Tur hev his toe druv tur his heel.

Uv course, it won’t hurt “by an’ by”,

Eben supposin’ you don’t cry.

Now when a feller stubs his toe

An’ drives it in an inch or so,

Don’t hop eroun’ upon one boot,

An’ lissen tur some ol’ galoot;

Git on the grass, if it’s clus by,

An’ rub, an’ hev a proper cry.

July 5, ‘94