Sonnets of a Budding Bard

Of goin’ forth into the world to stray,
For she’d be somewhere, still, inside the gate
Delayin’ things, as women dost to-day,
A-tryin’ for to pin her hat on straight.

Lines Wrote Whilst Smartin’ from Punishment Received for Lyin’

O Washington! (O Reader, hast thou not
In readin’ high-toned poems wrote for show,
Observed how many of them start with “O?”
Well, anyhow, there is an awful lot.)
The noble deeds thou wrought’st are not forgot
But serve to make thy name, where’er we go,
A household word. If all they say is so
Thou didst some mighty clever stunts. That’s what!

And yet, thy fame belongest to thy dad;
Thou shinest by reflected light, forsooth,
For thou ’rt the only boy that ever had
A pa who, when his son dared tell the truth
About some kiddish prank didst not get mad
And lamm him! O thou heaven-protected youth!

Thoughts Thought about Ma’s Notions Regardin’ Love and House-keepin’

When sister Maymie saidst she’d like to learn