Classic Poem

Mr. Rabbit run fur — Mr. Rabbit run fas',
Kaze dey scuzen'd him er givin' de gals some sass.
Wid der fingers in der years, dey stomped der feet,
Wid, " Des lis'n at dat! Is you ever hear de beat? "
Yit all in de worl' dat Brer Rabbit say,
Wuz " Howdy, my honies! Whichaway — whichaway?
Youer gittin too ol' fer ter be so gay —
I b'lieve in my soul youer turnin' gray! "
Mr. Owl, he seed a big star shoot,
An' he blow his horn wid a toot-toot-toot!

Mr. Fox come along wid a han' ter his year,
An' de gals, dey holler, " Brer Fox, run here! "
Mr. Fox, he grin an' show his tush —
" Please come an' make Brer Rabbit hush;
We wa'n't doin' nothin' but dancin' on de grass,
An' here he come wid his mouf full er sass. "
Mr. Owl, he seed a n'er star shoot,
An' he make his horn go toot-toot-toot!

Mr. Fox scratch hisse'f behime de year,
Wid a " Tut-tut-tut! What's dis I hear? "
An' de gals dey say, " You hears de trufe! "
An' den Mr. Fox, wild a wiff-waff-woof!
Try ter swaller Brer Rabbit, but he swaller'd de a'r;
He snapped, he did, but he never totch a ha'r,
An' a mighty good reason — Brer Rabbit wa'n't dar!
One star, two stars, three stars shoot,
An ol' Mr. Owl blow toot-toot-toot!

Mr. Rabbit, fum behime de mullein stalk,
Holler, " Ladies all, I'm gwine ter take a walk:
I wuz makin' fun, but I'm sorry I spoke,
Fer all I say wa'n't nothin' but a joke. "
" La, Brer Rabbit! an' whyn't you tell us?
Kaze we likes you better dan de yuther fellers. "
Mr. Rabbit, he laugh an' wiggle his smellers,
An' " De hoss-apple falls long 'fo' it mellers! "
Two stars, three stars, four stars shoot —
Mr. Owl, he laugh, an' toot-toot-toot!

Mr. Rabbit, he say, " Youer in yo' prime;
I'd 'a' tol' you dat, but you ain't gi' me time. "

Miss Meadows, she say, " Don't lose yo' chance,
Less go ter my house an' all have a dance. "
Mr. Rabbit, he laugh an' shake his head,
" What mo' kin you say when all is said?
I'm de one dat's gray — Brer Fox is red;
I kin be my own frien' when all is fled.
I'm gwine fer ter git some calamus root,
An' lis en ter de Whipperwill a-playin' on his flute —
Mr. Whipperwill — he won't stay still —
Mr. Whipperwill, a-playin' on his flute!