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James Whitcomb Riley - Knee-Deep in June
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Tell you what I like the best — 
         `Long about knee-deep in June, 
      `Bout the time strawberries melts 
   On the vine, — some afternoon 
Like to jes` git out and rest, 
       And not work at nothin` else! 

Orchard`s where I`d ruther be — 
Needn`t fence it in fer me! — 
   Jes` the whole sky overhead, 
And the whole airth underneath — 
Sort o` so`s a man kin breathe 
   Like he ort, and kind o` 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! 

Jes` a-sort o` lazin 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 boy `at`s ap` to be 
   Up some other apple tree! 
Watch the swallers skootin` past 
Bout as peert as you could ast; 
   Er the Bob-white raise and whiz 
   Where some other`s whistle is. 

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 ever` 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-glitterin` like glass, 
      Waitin` till he makes a pass! 

Pee-wees wingin`, 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 baseball clothes o` his, 
Sportin` round the orchad jes` 
Like he owned the premises! 
      Sun out in the fields 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! 

Plague! Ef they ain`t somepin` in 
Work `at kind o` goes ag`in` 
   My convictions! - `long about 
      Here in June especially! — 
      Under some ole apple tree, 
         Jes` a-restin through and through, 
   I could git along without 
         Nothin` else at all to do 
         Only jes` a-wishin` you 
Wuz a-gittin` there like me, 
And June wuz eternity! 

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! 

March ain`t never nothin` new! — 
April`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 ag`in! — 
But when June comes - Clear my th`oat 
   With wild honey! — Rench my hair 
In the dew! And hold my coat! 
Whoop out loud! And th`ow my hat! — 
   June wants me, and I`m to spare! 
   Spread them shadders anywhere, 
   I`ll get down and waller there, 
      And obleeged to you at that!
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