DE CLICKIN' OB DE REEL 



I's hear'd de bullfrog bellow, 

 De fatty 'possum squeal, 

 But dat's no music like unto 

 De clickin' ob de reel. 

 Fs hear'd de locus' singin', 

 De Kildeer's noisy peal, 

 But dat don't wake de heart up 

 Like de clickin' ob de reel. 

 I's hea'd de farm bell ringin' 

 De call fer fiel' han's meal, 

 But dat don't have no 'traction 

 Like de clickin' ob de reel. 

 I's hear'd de fox houn barkin' 

 He'd scent de rabbit's heel, 

 But dat wer' mighty dullness 

 'Gin de clickin' ob de reel. 

 Is yer eber bin aboatin' 

 In de ship widout de keel, 

 And seen de rod abendin' 

 To de clickin' ob de reel? 

 De trow dey call de "castin"', 

 En when dey strike ye's feel 

 De line she go a sizzin' 

 To de clickin' ob de reel. 

 Ye begin ter wind 'er in den 

 Wid all ye's nigga zeal, 

 Fer ye's like ter cotch'd a bass 

 Wid de clickin' ob de reel. 

 From ebery nook en corner, 

 Natur's mel'dies roun' me steal 

 But non' ob dem ain' in it 

 Wid de clickin' ob de reel. 



RICHARD SYLVESTER, 1905. 



