Chuck's allus had de Hoodoos bad! -- Do what he kin to lose 'em, Dey track dat coon, by sun er moon, Des like dey cain't uxcuse 'im! An' more he gyaurd 'em off, more hard Hit 'pear-like dat they press 'im -- De onliest luck dey 'low ole Chuck Is dis enough to 'stress 'im! He taken care -- no matter where He's walkin' 'long de street an' See any ladder leanin' there, Er cross-eyed man he's meetin' -- Dat eye o' his ketch wher' dey is, An', quick as "scat," Chuck's hittin' De curb outside, an' watch wile-eyed Fust lef'-han' place to spit in! He' got toenails o' bats; an' snails Shet hot in deir shell-houses Wid sealin'-wax; an' little backs O' turkles in his trouse's: A moleskin-pu's'; an' possum's han' -- Des ever' charm an' wonder -- An' barber-chair o' shore hosshair -- An' hoss-shoe hangin' under! "An' yit," says Chuck, "I got no luck: -- De Hoodoos still a-bafflin' Dis po' ole saint what knows he ain't -- 'Twix' shootin' craps an' rafflin'! No overcoat -- ner underwear, -- Right on de aidge o' winter I's up aginst de wust layout Dey's ever go me inter!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE: THE MEDITERRANEAN by GEORGE SANTAYANA ODE TO TRANQUILLITY by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE THE HOUSEKEEPER by CHARLES LAMB PALINGENESIS by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW HAMPTON BEACH by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER PRESENTIMENT by CHARLOTTE BRONTE AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL by WILLIAM E. BROOKS |