A Freak of Spring
AAT any other time of year
It might have passed, but Spring is queer.
He says somethin'—I dunno—
Somethin' nasty. I says, "Ho!"
"Ho, yourself !" he says, an' glares.
I says nothin'—only stares.
"Coot!" says he … Then up she goes!
An' I land him on the nose.
It was Spring, Spring, Spring! Just to hear the thrushes sing
Would make a fellow laugh, or love, or fight like anything.
Which mood called I wasn't carin'; I was feelin' fine an' darin';
So I fetches him a beauty with a lovely left-arm swing.
Ben Murray staggered back a bit an' howled a wicked word
Which gave me feelin's of great joy … An' that's how it occurred.
"On the sawdust!" yells old Pike,
Gloatin' an' bloodthirsty-like.
"On the sawdust with yeh both!"
Truth to tell, I'm nothin' loth.
I peel off my coat an' vest.
Murray, with his rage suppressed,
Comes up eager, pale with spite.
"Glory!" shouts old Pike. "A fight!"
31
