BECAUSE —!

This thing of writing “homely verse,”

With country phrases, jokes and slang;

With “jiminies!” “by hecks!” and such,

With “backwoods” odor, taste and tang —

This thing, I say, of making light

Of country life is funny — Not!

I'd like to know where we would be

If farms were all to go to pot!

We talk a lot of “backyard farms,”

“Intensive gard'ning” — “how to raise

All vegetables that you need

On ten square feet in twenty days.”

We figure fortunes that six hens

Will bring us — if we keep‘ em penned;

And yet, when farmers are the butt

Of jokes, who rises to defend?

I'm weary of this silly pose,

This pseudo-humor, sickly wit;

I will not laugh or even smile

When at the farmers jokesmiths hit.

Especially this time of year

I do denounce it! ( Uncle Jim

Out on his farm lives well — and he

Has asked us all to visit him! )