Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A VERMONT GENERAL-UTILITY MAN, by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY Poet's Biography First Line: We used to have a man in town Last Line: That bested jerry king. Subject(s): Ingenuity; Neighbors; Vermont | ||||||||
WE used to have a man in town That helped at everything; He'd nail your suller windows down And teach your bird to sing, And make a boy a sling: He'd "treat" a hen that longed to set, He'd mend a gosling's wing I've never seen a feller yet That equaled Jerry King. They said he come from Warner's Jog, Or up by McIndoes, For when he spied a floating log He'd kinder twist his toes, And then his eyes would close, As though he heard the breakaway Of river drives in Spring He never had too much to say, Subjective Jerry King. He'd fix your pump and sodder tin And plug a pewter cup, And get the clock wheels all back in When Johnny give it up; And shear a fancy pup, And graft a tree and doctor sprains And cure a hornet's sting, And carry off a pet's remains Old useful Jerry King. He'd work up anybody's wood, Except for Strutty Mills, And make a hedgehogged dog feel good By picking out the quills; And witness deeds and wills, And shave a pauper that was dead And rig a picnic swing, And "watch" where canker rash had spread Our neighbor, Jerry King. There seemed to be no end of things That Jerry liked to do: We always run to Jerry King's When things would come in two, For he was "king" of glue; He'd hoop a tub and fit a key And find your wedding ring Right there beneath the lilac tree Ingenious Jerry King. He'd tile a well and run a ditch And lay a 'butment wall, And comb and braid a lady's switch Or steam her "waterfall," And clean a Paisley shawl, And take a Y-shaped stick and go And find a living spring, And pot a fuchsia so 'twould grow, Yes; that was Jerry King. He'd help cut up and salt the meat And make or scald the brine, And mend a haircloth sofa seat And trim a Concord vine, And fasten on the line To trout hooks made without a hole In which to put the string I've never seen a human soul That bested Jerry King. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ORATION: HALF-MOON IN VERMONT by NORMAN DUBIE THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S ANNUAL by NORMAN DUBIE THE CROWS AT 3 A.M. by STANLEY PLUMLY ALBANY BUS STATION by RUTH STONE FALL COMES IN BACK-COUNTRY VERMONT by ROBERT PENN WARREN A SNOW-STORM; SCENE IN A VERMONT WINTER by CHARLES GAMAGE EASTMAN A VERMONT 'DONATION' by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY A VERMONT 'DONATION' by DANIEL LEAVENS CADY |
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