Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE VILLAGE ORACLE, by JOSEPH CROSBY LINCOLN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE VILLAGE ORACLE, by                    
First Line: Old dan'l hanks he says this town
Last Line: "I'm right because I be!"
Subject(s): Clergy; Religion; Sermons; Villages; Priests; Rabbis; Ministers; Bishops; Theology


OLD Dan'l Hanks he says this town
Is jest the best on earth;
He says there ain't one up nor down,
That's got one half her worth;
He says there ain't no other state
That's good as ourn, nor near;
And all the folks that's good and great
Is settled right 'round here.

Says I: "D'jer ever travel, Dan?"
"You bet I ain't!" says he;
"I tell you what! the place I've got
Is good enough fer me!"

He says the other party's fools,
'Cause they don't vote his way;
He says the "feeble-minded schools"
Is where they ought ter stay;
If he was law their mouth he'd shut,
Or blow'em all ter smash;
He says their platform's nawthin' but
A great big mess of trash.

Says I: "D'jer ever read it, Dan?"
"You bet I ain't!" says he;
"And when I do, well, I tell you,
I'll let you know, by gee!"

He says that all religion's wrong,
'Cept just what he believes;
He says them ministers belong
In jail, the same as thieves;
He says they take the blessed Word
And tear it all ter shreds;
He says their preachin's jest absurd;
They're simply leatherheads.

Says I: "D'jer ever hear'em, Dan?"
"You bet I ain't!" says he;
"I'd never go ter hear'em, no;
They make me sick ter see!"

Some fellers reckon, more or less,
Before they speak their mind,
And sometimes calkerlate or guess —
But them ain't Dan'l's kind.
The Lord knows all things, great or small,
With doubt He's never vexed;
He, in His wisdom, knows it all —
But Dan'l Hanks comes next.

Says I: "How d'yer know you're right?"
"How do I know?" says he;
"Well, now, I vum! I know, by gum!
I'm right because I be!"





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