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. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A RAINY DAY IN CAMP by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND AUTUMN DAYS by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND BARBOTTE (BULL-POUT) by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND BATEESE AND HIS LITTLE DECOYS by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND BATEESE THE LUCKY MAN by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND BLOOM - A SONG OF COBALT by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND BOULE by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND BRUNO THE HUNTER by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND CANADIAN FOREVER by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND CAUDA MORRHUAE by WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND |
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