Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IX. Tragedy: Humor. 1904. | | | | Humorous Poems: II. Miscellaneous | | Jim | | Bret Harte (1836–1902) |
| | | SAY there! P’r’aps | |
| Some on you chaps | |
| Might know Jim Wild? | |
| Well,—no offence: | |
| Thar ain’t no sense | 5 |
| In gettin’ riled! | |
| |
| Jim was my chum | |
| Up on the Bar: | |
| That ’s why I come | |
| Down from up thar, | 10 |
| Lookin’ for Jim. | |
| Thank ye, sir! you | |
| Ain’t of that crew,— | |
| Blest if you are! | |
| |
| Money?—Not much: | 15 |
| That ain’t my kind; | |
| I an’t no such. | |
| Rum?—I don’t mind, | |
| Seein’ it ’s you. | |
| |
| Well, this yer Jim, | 20 |
| Did you know him?— | |
| Jess ’bout your size; | |
| Same kind of eyes?— | |
| Well, that is strange: | |
| Why, it ’s two year | 25 |
| Since he come here, | |
| Sick, for a change. | |
| |
| Well, here ’s to us; | |
| Eh? | |
| The deuce you say! | 30 |
| Dead?— | |
| That little cuss? | |
| |
| What makes you star,— | |
| You over thar? | |
| Can’t a man drop | 35 |
| ’s glass in yer shop | |
| But you must rar’? | |
| It wouldn’t take | |
| Derned much to break | |
| You and your bar. | 40 |
| |
| Dead! | |
| Poor—little—Jim! | |
| —Why, there was me, | |
| Jones, and Bob Lee, | |
| Harry and Ben,— | 45 |
| No-account men: | |
| Then to take him! | |
| |
| Well, thar—Good-bye,— | |
| No more, sir,—I— | |
| Eh? | 50 |
| What ’s that you say?— | |
| Why, dern it!—sho!— | |
| No? Yes! By Jo! | |
| Sold! | |
| Sold! Why you limb, | 55 |
| You ornery, | |
| Derned old | |
| Long-leggèd Jim! | | | | |
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