Classic Poem

Brer Tarrypin tired er prom'nadin' roun',
An' he lay in de sun right flat on de groun';
His foots wuz col', an' his eyes wuz red,
An' it look like sump'in done bunged up his head;
But he watch Brer Buzzard a-sailin' in de sky,
An' he wisht fum his heart dat he could fly —
Fil-a-ma-looner-leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

He frown an' he grunt; he grunt an' he groan,
He sniffle an' snuffle, he wheeze an' he moan;
He drapt a big tear in de acorn-cup,
An' de bug run out, he gobble 'im up;
Brer Buzzard flew'd, an' he flew'd mighty high,
He flop his wings an' he wink his eye —
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

He see Brer Tarrypin layin' flat,
An' he chuckle ter hisse'f, " Oh-ho! look at dat!
It's a mighty funny place fer ter make a bed,
An' he may be sick, an' he may be dead! "
So he drap down slow, an' he drap down sly,
But Tarrypin watchin' wid his red eye —
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

Buzzard he lit a little up de slope,
An' hit de gait call de buzzard-lope,
An' den Brer Tarrypin tuck in his head
An' lay des like he done gone ter bed.
Brer Buzzard he holler, " He! he-hi! "
An' Tarrypin 'spon', " Ah-yi! ah-yi! "
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

" You keep yo-se'f shot up in yo' shell, "
Brer Buzzard 'low, " but I hope you er well? "
Brer Tarrypin say he feelin' ez smart
Ez what a man kin wid a swelled-up heart,
An' a liver all blue, an' a blood-red eye;
An' he moaned an' groaned, an' he cried, " Oh, my! "
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

" Better git de doctor! " Brer Buzzard say;
" He'll kyo you, sho, ef dey's any way. "
" I done been saw 'im, " Brer Tarrypin 'low,
" An' he up an' tol' me dat my onliest how
Is to fin' somebody dat'll tote me high
An' turn me loose so I'll l'arn how ter fly " —
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

Brer Buzzard he say, " Why, bless you, chile!
You kin count on me! " an' he smole a smile.
" When it comes ter heft you er right smart chunk,
But I speck I kin tote you " — an' den he wunk.
" I'll tote you low, an' I'll tote you high;
I'll tote you past, an' I'll tote you by " —
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

He ruffle his fedders, an he flop his wings,
Wid " Dis is de trouble dat frien'ship brings;
But I'll take it all an' ax fer mo',
Ef so be I kin git you ter go. "
Brer Tarrypin study, an' look at de sky,
Kaze his heart wuz sot on l'arnin' ter fly —
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

Down on his hunkers Brer Buzzard squot,
An' on his back Brer Tarrypin got;
'Twuz slip an' fall, but he got on,
An' de nex' news you know dey bofe wuz gone!
A-sailin' low, an' a-sailin' high,
A-sailin' fur, an' a-sailin' nigh —
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

" Now, how shill I l'arn? " Brer Tarrypin say.
Brer Buzard 'spon', " I'll show you de way.
I'm a-flyin' high, but I'll start down,
Den you turn loose an' sail all roun'. "
Brer Tarrypin say — an' he shot his eye —
" Ef we go much higher we'll sturb de sky! "
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

Tarrypin turn loose an' down he come,
Wid a blip an' a blap an' a blim-blam-blum!
He come wid a squeal, he come wid a squall —
Dey ain't nobody y'ever had sech a fall!
An' a mighty good reason: he wuz up so high
Dat when he hit de groun' he wuz dead, mighty nigh —
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!

Buzzard he foller fer ter see it done well,
Wid " La, ol' friend'! it seem like you fell!
An' all you hatter do wuz ter flop yo' wings! "

Tarrypin groan; he say, " By jings!
I know one thing, an' dat ain't two —
I know one thing wid my fil-a-ma-loo!
I know one thing, an' I know it right —
I know how ter fly, but I dunner how ter light!
Sump'n n'er tol' me ez I sail in de sky,
" L'arn how ter light 'fo' you l'arn how ter fly!" "
Fil-a-ma-looner leener! fil-a-ma-leener-li!