Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GOIN' BAREFOOT, by BURGES JOHNSON



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GOIN' BAREFOOT, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It's more fun goin' barefoot than anythin' I know
Last Line: Er else I wisht I was so poor I hadn't none t' lose!
Subject(s): Boys; Children; Feet; Play; Childhood


It's more fun goin' barefoot than anythin' I know.
There ain't another single thing that helps yer feelin's so.
Some days I stay in Muvver's room a-gettin' in her way,
An' when I've bothered her so much she sez, "Oh run and play,"
I say, "Kin I go barefoot?" En she sez, "If y' choose;"
Nen I alwuz wanter holler when I'm pullin' off my shoes!
It's fun a-goin' barefoot when yer playin' any game,
'Cause robbers would be noisy an' Indians awful tame
Unless they had their shoes off when they crep' up in th' night,
An' folks can't know they're comin' till they get right close in sight!
An' I'm surely goin' barefoot every day when I get old
An' haven't got a nurse to say I'll catch my dethocold!

An' if yer goin' barefoot yer want t' go outdoors—
Y' can't strech out an' dig yer heels in stupid hardwood floors
Like you kin dig 'em in th' dirt. An' where th' long grass grows
The blades feel kinder tickly an' cool between yer toes.
So when I'm pullin' off my shoes I'm mighty 'fraid I'll cough,
'Cause then I know Ma'd stop me 'fore I got my stockin's off!

If y' often go 'round barefoot there's lots o' things to know,
Of how t' curl yer feet on stones so they won't hurt y' so,
An' when th' grass is stickly and pricks y' at a touch,
Jes' plunk your feet down solid an' it don't hurt half so much.
I lose my hat mos' every day. I wish I did my shoes—
Er else I wisht I was so poor I hadn't none t' lose!





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