My Sister Kate...

In looking for some old photos today I found a handwritten note from my mama, written many years ago.  Whenever I would visit mama, I would ask her to recite the poem she learned in school.  I loved hearing her recite it and I know she loved saying it for me.  I finally got her to write down the words so that I would always have them.  She did... and here they are.

My Sister Kate....

My name is Tommy and I hates that feller of my sister Kate's
He's bigger'n I am you see and he's sorta looks down on me,
and I resents it with a vim 'cause I think I'm just as good as him
But then he's older, and he's mighty high
But he's a kid, and so am I.

One night he came down by the gate
It must have been getting mighty late
and Katie she was there and they were feeling very nice and gay,
and he was talking all the while about her sweet and lovely smile
and everythng was nice as pie
'Cause they were there, and so was I.

I couldn't hear quite all wuz said but by and by my sister's head
was dropping on his shoulder an I see'd him holding Katie's hand.
And he was saying that his love was greater than all the stars above
up in that glorious Heaven place
And then his arm got around her waist, and then he hugged her closer some
Then I heard a kiss, yum yum.
Kate she blushed and drew aside and sorta coughed
and so did I.

Then that feller looked around and saw me right there on the ground
and was he mad, you bet your boots
I just get right out and skoots
He just left my sister Kate
Standing right there by the gate
and I see'd blood was in his eye,
and he run fast, and so did I.

I run'ned the very best I could
but he katch'd up, I's afeered he would
And then he shook me awful,
Gee he just thrashed the ground with me.
But then he stopped it bye and bye
'cause he grew tired and so did I.

Then he went back to the gate
But he couldn't find my sister Kate
'Cause she'd gone to bed while he was runnin' around and thumping me
And I slipped around in the shadder dim
and made a face and guffed at him.
And then the moon larfed in the sky
'cause he was there and so wuz I.

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I'm sure you had a laugh at some of the word spellings, but that is how my mama learned it from school.  Back in the hills of Tennessee I reckon they didn't get the most modern books in the 1920's.
I can still hear my mama recite it to me.

And it brings a tear to my eyes and joy to my heart.

I  miss you mama, more than you'll ever know.

I hope you enjoyed this poem and perhaps think back to the 'olden' days of when your parents or even your grandparents, told you a story about something.  I tried to get some of my mama's stories before she left for heaven.  I'm glad I did.  These are her legacy to me and my decendants.

What are you leaving behind?

Blessings!