“Knee-deep in June”

I. tell you what I like the best—     ’Long about knee-deep in June,     ’Bout the time strawberries melts     On the vines—some afternoon Like to jes’ git out and rest,     And not work at nothin’ else! II. Orchard’s where I’ ruther be— Needn’t fence it in for me!   Jes’ the whole sky overhead     And the whole airth underneath—     Sorto’ so ’s a man kin breath   Like he ort, and kindo’ has Elbow-room to keerlessly   Sprawl out len’thways on the grass,     Where the shadows thick and soft As the kivvers on the bed   Mother fixes in the loft Allus, when they’s company! III. Jes’ a sort o’ lazein’ there—   S’ lazy, ’at you peek and peer     Through the wavin’ leaves above,     Like a feller ’ats in love   And don’t know it, ner don’t keer!   Ever’thing you hear and see     Got some sort o’ interest—     Maybe find a bluebird’s nest   Tucked up there conveenently   Fer the boys ’ats apt to be   Up some other apple-tree! Watch the swallers skootin’ past ’Bout as peert as you could ast;     Er the Bobwhite raise and whiz     Where some other’s whistle is. IV. Ketch a shadder down below, And look up to find the crow; Er a hawk away up there, ’Pearantly froze in the air!—   Hear the old hen squawk, and squat   Over every chick she ’s got, Sudden-like!—And she knows where That-air hawk is, well as you!— You jes’ bet yer life she do!—   Eyes a-glittering like glass,   Waitin’ till he makes a pass! V. Pee-wees’ singin’, to express   My opinion’s second class, Yit you ’ll hear ’em more er less;   Sapsucks gittin’ down to biz, Weedin’ out the lonesomeness;   Mr. Bluejay, full o’ sass,     In them base-ball clothes o’ his, Sportin’ ’round the orchard jes’ Like he owned the premises!   Sun out in the fields kin sizz, But flat on your back, I guess,   In the shade’s where glory is!     That ’s jes’ what I ’d like to do     Stiddy for a year or two! VI. Plague! if they ain’t sompin’ in Work ’at kindo’ goes agin My convictions!—’long about   Here in June especially!—   Under some old apple tree,     Jes’ a-restin’ through and through, I could git along without     Nothin’ else at all to do     Only jes’ a-wishin’ you Was a-gittin’ there like me, And June was eternity! VII.     Lay out there and try to see     Jes’ how lazy you kin be!—   Tumble round and souse yer head In the clover-bloom, er pull       Yer straw hat acrost yer eyes,       And peek through it at the skies,     Thinkin’ of old chums ’ats dead,         Maybe, smilin’ back at you In betwixt the beautiful         Clouds o’ gold and white and blue!—     Month a man kin railly love—     June, you know, I ’m talkin’ of! VIII.     March ain’t never nothin’ new!—     Aprile ’s altogether too       Brash fer me! and May—I jes’       ’Bominate its promises,—         Little hints o’ sunshine and     Green around the timber-land—     A few blossoms, and a few     Chip-birds, and a sprout er two—     Drap asleep, and it turns in     ’Fore daylight and snows agin!—     But when June comes—Clear my throat   With wild honey! Rench my hair     In the dew! and hold my coat!       Whoop out loud! and throw my hat!—       June wants me, and I ’m to spare!       Spread them shadders anywhere,       I ’ll git down and waller there,         And obleeged to you at that!