JOE GESSAPALENA can't write hees own name, But he can write othra theengs, justa da same; An' mebbe you, too, Bayfore he ees through, Weell read w'at he's wrote an' be glad dat he came. You see, eet ees verra good theeng for dees Joe He com' to dees countra so long time ago, Bayfore dey baygeen dese new eemigrant laws Dat mak' you know readin' an' writin', baycause Da 'Merican story he's makin' to-day Ees justa wrote down een a deefferent way. Eh? Pleassa, my frand, I'll esplain, eef you wait! You evva been up een Conne'tica State An' see dose ole farms dat's so full weetha stone Dat mos' evra farmer ees leavin' alone, Baycause dey ain't fit for nobody to own? Wal, Joe he ees buy wan o' dem lasta year An' now he ees doin' som' writin' up dere; An' even hees firsta year's work was so good He sure ees da talk for da whole neighborhood! You no ondrastand? O! my frand, you are slow! Wal, he weell esplain eet. So speaka dees Joe: "I write weeth no pen, but I taka my hoe An' I use eet so wal weeth my stronga right han' Dat I write, een Italian, all over dees lan' All da treecks I have learned, all da theengs dat I know Dat weell charma da plants an' jus' maka dem grow! But -- O! here now ees com' da mos' wondraful theeng! -- Dough I write on my fields een Italian een spreeng, You can read, een da summer, all over my lan' Soocha message da harvest speaks, plain 'Merican, Even dose dat mak' laws mebbe might ondrastan'!" Joe Gessapalena can't write hees own name, But he can write othra theengs, justa da same; An' mebbe you, too, Bayfore he ees through, Weell read w'at he's wrote an' be glad dat he came. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BABY'S SHOES by WILLIAM COX BENNETT THE CHARIOT by EMILY DICKINSON FIFTY YEARS (1863-1913) by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON TO ALFRED TENNYSON by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR FACADE: 27. WHEN SIR BEELZEBUB by EDITH SITWELL QUATORZAINS: 2. THOUGHTS by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES |