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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

JOSETTE by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND

First Line: I SEE JOSETTE ON DE CAR TODAY
Last Line: LEETLE SISTER OF DE POOR.
I SEE Josette on de car to-day,
Leetle Josette Couture,
An' it's easy tellin' she's been away
On market of Bonsecour --
'Cos dere's de blueberry on de pail
Wit' more t'ing lyin' about --
An' dere's de basket wit' de tail
Of de chicken stickin' out.

Ev'ry conductor along de road
Help her de bes' he can,
An' I see dem sweat wit' de heavy load,
Many a beeg, strong man --
But it's differen' t'ing w'en she tak' hol',
Leavin' dem watchin' dere --
For wedder de win' blow hot or cole
Josette never turn a hair.

Wonderful woman for seexty-five --
Smart leetle woman sure!
An' if he's wantin' to kip alive
On church of de Bonsecour
De pries' he mus' rise 'fore de rooster crow,
Or mebbe he'll be too late
For seein' dere on de street below,
Josette comin' in de gate.

An' half of de mornin' she don't spen' dere
Hangin' aroun' de pew --
Bodderin' God wid de long, long prayer --
For bote of dem got to do
Plaintee work 'fore de day's gone by,
An' well she know -- Josette --
No matter how busy an' hard she try,
De work's never finish yet.

An' well he know it, de habitant,
Who is it ketch heem, w'en
He's drivin' along from St. Laurent --
For it's easier bargain den --
'Cos if de habitant only sole
De whole of hees load dat way --
Of course he's savin' de market toll
An' not'ing at all to pay.

Dey call her ole maid, but I can't tell -- me --
De chil'ren she has got:
No fader, no moder, dat's way dey be --
You never see such a lot --
An' if you ax how she fin' de clothes
An' food for de young wan dere --
She say: "Wit' de help of God, I s'pose
An' de leetle shop down stair."

Comin' an' goin' mos' all de tam,
Helpin' dem all along,
Jus' lak de ole sheep watch de lamb
Till dey are beeg an' strong --
Not'ing lak dat I be seein' yet,
An' it's hard to beat for sure --
So dat's de reason dey call Josette
Leetle Sister of de poor.



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