Peter Knaggs
Upon Meeting An American Civil War Veteran
Mishter, shee ma thumbs,
fifteen I wash, shtrung me,
Captain made two noshes,
an I hung by ma thumbs,
shtretched like gum,
a leshon, for going on,
an deshertin.
Mishter shee ma leegs,
worrzan a wagon crushed porcupine-dang
near fortnight
that barrel wuz ma only cloze,
that rim shliced my leegs off
nearinuff, shtranger punishment
for a desherter.
Mishter are you lookin
at ma shoulders,
staved, wi less fart
an two dead rats,
Coward burned black
into a plank,
chained across ma back
splinters pinning ma skin.
Even those couldn’t read
knewz what it shpelt.
Yesurree mishter,
it worn’t long.
I desherted ageen,
but reckonz I got lucky,
daubed my trousers
wi a yellar stripe.
Allus callt me yellar
this yellar that,
shticks an shtones.
Ma name ain't yellar
mishter. One day I seen
a man nailt to a tree,
crucified like the good Lord.
I went shome time wi-out running.
Jim’s brain gotten blown out,
shplattered ma hand.
Bye Captain I sayeed.
Danged varmints.
Mishter shee ma mark
on ma cheek, Yessurree,
branded wi a cattle iron,
D
ever shmelt your own shkin burn
shun? Nope, nosuree,
but I telt you ma story now.
Page(s) 95-96
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