Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems/Sequel to the "One-Horse Shay"

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Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems by Charles Follen Adams Sequel to the "One-Horse Shay".

Prevalent Poetry.→

Yawcob Strauss and Other Poems is a 1910 book by Charles Follen Adams.

SEQUEL TO THE "ONE-HORSE SHAY."

Doubtless my readers all have heard

Of the "wonderful one-horse shay "

That "went to pieces all at once"

On the terrible earthquake-day.

But did they ever think of the horse,

Or mourn the loss of him,—

The "ewe-necked bay" (who drew the "shay"),

So full of life and vim?

He was a wonderful nag, I'm told,

In spite of his old "rat-tail;"

And, though he always minded the rein,

He laughed at the snow and hail.

He had the finest stable in town,

With plenty of oats and hay;

And to the parson's oft "Hud-dup"

He never would answer neigh.

To the parson's shay he was ever true,

Though her other felloes were tired:

To live and die with his fiancée

Was all that his heart desired.

He was much attached to his ancient mate;

So the parson "hitched them together;"

And, when they went on their bridle tour,

His heart was light as a feather.

We all remember her awful fate,

On that sad November day,

When nothing remained but a heap of trash,

That once was a beautiful shay.

Oh! what could stir-up the equine breast

Like this fearful, harrowing blow.

Which put a check on his happiness,

And filled his heart with w(h)oa.

As he wheeled about, a shaft of pain

Entered his faithful breast,

As he there beheld the sad remains

Of her whom he loved the best.

With a sudden bound and fearful snort,

He sped away like the wind;

And a fact most queer I'll mention here, —

No traces were left behind.

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923. The author died in 1918, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 80 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.