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!)