KNEE-DEEP IN JUNE.

“LAY OUT THERE AND TRY TO SEE JES’ HOW LAZY YOU KIN BE!”

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!

5II.

Orchard’s where I’d ruther be—

Needn’t fence it in fer me!

Jes’ the whole sky overhead,

And the whole airth underneath—

Sorto’ so’s a man kin breathe

Like he ort, and kindo’ has

Elbow-room to keerlessly

Sprawl out len’thways on the grass,

Where the shadders thick and soft

As the kivvers on the bed

Mother fixes in the loft

Allus, when they’s company!

III.

Jes’ a sorto’ 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;

6Er a hawk away up there,

’Pearantly froze in the air!—

Hear the old hen squawk, and squat

Over every chick she’s got,

Suddent-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 gettin’ down to biz,

Weedin’ out the lonesomeness;

Mr. Bluejay, full o’ sass,

In those base-ball clothes o’ his,

Sportin’ ’round the orchard jes’

Like he owned the premises!

Sun out in the field kin sizz,

But flat on yer back, I guess,

In the shade’s where glory is!

That’s jes’ what I’d like to do

Stiddy fer a year er two!

VI.

Plague! ef they aint 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

7Nothin’ else at all to do

Only jes’ a-wishin’ you

Was a-gettin’ 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!

8Whoop 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!

James Whitcomb Riley.