Old-Fashioned Roses
by
They ain’t no style about ’em,
And they’re sorto’ pale and faded,
Yit the doorway here, without ’em,
Would be lonesomer, and shaded
With a good ‘eal blacker shadder
Than the morning-glories makes,
And the sunshine would look sadder
Fer their good old-fashion’ sakes,
I like ’em ’cause they kindo’–
Sorto’ MAKE a feller like ’em!
And I tell you, when I find a
Bunch out whur the sun kin strike ’em,
It allus sets me thinkin’
O’ the ones ‘at used to grow
And peek in thro’ the chinkin’
O’ the cabin, don’t you know!
And then I think o’ mother,
And how she ust to love ’em–
When they wuzn’t any other,
‘Less she found ’em up above ’em!
And her eyes, afore she shut ’em,
Whispered with a smile and said
We must pick a bunch and putt ’em
In her hand when she wuz dead.
But, as I wuz a-sayin’,
They ain’t no style about ’em
Very gaudy er displaying
But I wouldn’t be without ’em,–
‘Cause I’m happier in these posies,
And the hollyhawks and sich,
Than the hummin’-bird ‘at noses
In the roses of the rich.