IT'S LAUGHTER I'M AFTER

It's laughter I'm after, so why do the tears
Splatter like raindrops through these lonely years?
It's laughter I'm after, so why must sorrow
Follow each sad day into it's tommorow?

- Beulah B. Pearson

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JACK'S TROUBLES

When my ma spanks, she spanks so hard
It makes my pantaloons all t-a-r-d.
I never have to do a thing
She just starts in and how it stings!
She says I tease the girls and that
I make the dog chase someone's cat.
She says I steal the jam and then
I never get enough wood in.
She knows just when I tare my pants,
Can tell it at the slightest glance
No matter how I try to hide
That tare thats on my own backside.
She says my clothes are strung around
And that my cap can ne'er be found,
That I dont practise half enough
And then my daddy gets real gruff.
He tells me what I'll have to do
Or he will have a hand in too.
Pa says if I would be a man
I'll have to do much better than
I've done up to the present date.
Oh--come on boys lets celebrate.

- Beulah B. Pearson

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LAY ME 'NEATH AN OAK

Lay me 'neath an old oak tree
Let its roots pierce into me
That it may be a living shrine
Unto this broken heart of mine.
As leaflets whisper in the breeze
Whispering such things as these:
The heart you broke is now mended
Wherever green and brown is blended,
At time just sit beneath this tree
With book of Memory on your knee
And as I walk the Valley, dark,
I'll see the print of your thumbmark
Should I be allowed to look
Between the pages of this book.
Perhaps a print of fingers, too,
That have caressed as it went through
The years we've spent together
Through fair and stormy weather.

- Beulah B. Pearson

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LIFE'S PATTERNS

Just something to remember, something to forget,
Something to be glad about, something to regret,
Someone to make you happy, then to make you cry.
Seems to be life's patterns, will someone tell me why?

- Beulah B. Pearson

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THE MILL

A monstrous mother giving birth
To children that will span the earth,
To homes and houses, beams and sills --
Children of the giant mills.
Then day's industry appeased,
The labour in her womb has ceased;
Exhausted now she seems near death
As spent she lies with wheezing breath
Until a new day marches in
Then with a scream she's up again
As workmen swarm to make her fitter
To bear another monstrous litter.

- Beulah B. Pearson

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MONA SUE

You came with merry raindrops
When you fell from out the sky
And I often see them glisten
When I look into your eye.
Yes, you were a little darling
Joy to us you did impart

You were looking for a shelter
So I opened up my heart.
Your moods are ever changing
Like the clouds above that night
Sometimes melancholy
But most often they are bright.
You remind me of a fairy
Slipping slyly through the wood,
And again a little mother
Caring ever for her brood..
But your husky little chuckle
When at mischief you would be
Is worth a million dollars
To your Daddy and to me.
You are the sweetest baby
Oh how we all love you,
And I hope you're always with us
Little girl, our Mona Sue.

- Beulah B. Pearson

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MY BOUQUET

When a fellow's kinda down and out --
Just nothin' to write home about.
Not really fit for killin'
Kinda chained upon a little cot --
I tell you folks it helps alot,
It's certainly heart fillin',
To find a bouquet on your stand.
Somehow you feel you have a friend
(Besides the dock a-pillin').
Although you cannot see his face
You know a friend must be someplace;
So this is what I'm spillin':
Whoever sent those flowers to me
Whether friend or Charity
It's just a wee bit thrillin'.
It's helped a lot to smooth the way --
Well, this is what I'm tryin' to say.
It's only "THANKS A MILLI'N".

- Beulah B. Pearson

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NERVES

Two fiery eyes stare through the pane
Out of the darkness and the rain,
Surrounded by a robe of white --
Oh My! it gives me such a fright.
O-o-o-o-h! It must be some old ghost
Who, in this storm, his way lost,
And seeking shelter in my home --
I'm so afraid and I'm alone!
In looking closer now I find
Those eyes are not the sculptural kind.
They are not hollow orbs of light
Which gave me that unearthly fright.
Perhaps another Peeping Tom.
I'll just call the cops to come --
Just a wanderer I'll bet.
Cold and hungry, perhaps, and yet,
I'll just look closer -- Oh My Hat!
It's only my old white Tom-cat.

- Beulah B. Pearson

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ODE TO CRATER LAKE

Oh Lake of mystery and splendor!
To my eyes you ever render
Beauties ever more sublime,
Unsurpassed in any clime.
In the Cascades there you nestle,
And with Nature ceaseless wrestle
Making beauty ever changing
Winter snow to summer ranging.

I came upon you once at dawn
Just before the rising sun.
All the wild things then of Nature
Seemed to join me in my rapture.
I stood upon your rocky rim,
Gazing till my eyes grew dim;
And a longing filled my heart
Never from you to depart.

- Beulah B. Pearson

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ONLY A BOY

You were only a boy, a wee small lad
The day that she went away.
But she's with you just the same, my lad
As she was that stormy day:
You may not have heard her whisper to you
But she whispered just the same
And she's watching every thing you do
Won't you whisper one sweet name:
Say it softly over and over, lad
It will ease an aching pain.
Don't ever forget the mother you had
Some day you'll see her again.
Don't stray too far from the path that she made
For those little feet to tread,
Don't let that face, from your memory now fade
Though you're now a man instead.
Keep her mem'ry cradled within your heart
And tell her your troubles, lad
Don't you ever let her from you depart,
She'll make your darkest hour glad.
Keep one little corner all snug for her
Keep it clean and warm and sweet
And you'll find she'll always be right there
Let her guide your erring feet.
Just whisper her name when 'ere you feel blue
And when 'ere your heart is sad
It'll do a lot then to comfort you
And make your heart feel glad.
There's only six letters, not another,
In the sweetest of all words: mother.

- Beulah B. Pearson

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ORTHO OR CROSS-COUSIN?

Your discourse on cousins has won my respect.
In fact this relation has had some neglect.
And while we are on it I'd like to mention
One of those cousins that's had my attention.
So if you'll allow me a space here or there
I'll ask about one that has entered my fare.
When one of those cousin, a third twice removed,
Is fond of one's hubby, Should it be approved
When they go out parking and night after night
Are snuggled up closely, he holding her tight.
Pretends she is taking first class salesmanship
And the smear on his face didn't come from her lip;
While, from her admission, she hasn't got far
With all of those lessons, Sold only one car.
And that one, she admits, was sold to herself.
Now shouldn't this cousin be laid on the shelf?
Is she the cross-cousin or now should I be?
I'm asking you this one.. Come on and tell me.
Do you think after that I should be ortho?
Or should I tell cousin perhaps she ought to
Go and take lessons from Tom, Dick, or Harry?
She's finished her course with my husband, Jerry.
Or let her go on A Post Graduate course.
While I take some lessons in getting divorce.

- Beulah B. Pearson

(Submitted to "Post Scripts" column in the "Saturday Evening Post")

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SEARCH FOR LIFE

How eager youth in search for life
So thoughtless of the aged strife
As searching for a richer land
Than that tilled by their elders' hand
Searching ever for greener field
But heedless of what it may yield
Scorning the fruits which it has bourne
Nor dreaming yet that they may mourne
As watered by a stream of tears
A blighted crop throughout the years.

- Beulah B. Pearson

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