Bad Cold by Shel Silverstein

  This cold is too much for my shortsleeve. Go get me a Kleenex--and fast. I sniffle and wheeze And I'm ready to sneeze And I don't know how long I can last.... Atchoo--it's to wet for a kleenex, So bring me handkerchief, quick. It's--atchoo--no joke, Now the handkerchief's soaked. Hey, a dish towel just might do the trick. Atchoo--it's too much for bath towel. There never has been such a cold. I'll be better off With that big tablecloth, No--bring me the flag off the pole. Atchoo--bring the clothes from the closet, Atchaa--get the sheets from the bed, The drapes off the window, The rugs off the floor To soak up this cold in my head. Atchoo-- hurry down to the circus And ask if they'll lend you the tent. You say they said yes? Here it comes--Lord be blessed-- Here it is--Ah-kachoooo--there it went.

“The Village Blacksmith” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882)

 

UNDER a spreading chestnut-tree 

The village smithy stands; 

The smith, a mighty man is he, 

With large and sinewy hands; 

And the muscles of his brawny arm 

Are strong as iron bands. 

His hair is crisp, and black, and long, 

His face is like the tan; 

His brow is wet with honest sweat, 

He earns whate’er he can, 

And looks the whole world in the face, 

For he owes not any man. 

Week in, week out, from morn till night, 

You can hear his bellows blow; 

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,

With measured beat and slow, 

Like a sexton ringing the village bell, 

When the evening sun is low. 

And children coming home from school 

Look in at the open door; 

They love to see the flaming forge, 

And hear the bellows roar, 

And catch the burning sparks that fly, 

Like chaff from a threshing-floor. 

He goes on Sunday to the church, 

And sits among his boys; 

He hears the parson pray and preach, 

He hears his daughter’s voice, 

Singing in the village choir, 

And it makes his heart rejoice. 

It sounds to him like her mother’s voice,

Singing in Paradise! 

He needs must think of her once more 

How in the grave she lies; 

And with his hard, rough hand he wipes 

A tear out of his eyes. 

Toiling,—rejoicing,—sorrowing, 

Onward through life he goes; 

Each morning sees some task begin, 

Each evening sees it close; 

Something attempted, something done. 

Has earned a night’s repose. 

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend, 

For the lesson thou hast taught! 

Thus at the flaming forge of life 

Our fortunes must be wrought; 

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped 

Each burning deed and thought.

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