A Pastoral

Just as the sun was setting     Back of the Western hills     Grandfather stood by the window     Eating the last of his pills.     And Grandmother, by the cupboard,     Knitting, heard him say:     I ought to have went to the village     To fetch some more pills today.     Then Grandmother snuffled a teardrop     And said. It is jest like I suz     T th parsonGrandfathers liver     Aint what it used to was:     Its gittin torpid and dormant,     It dont function like of old,     And even them pills he swallers     Dont seem no more t catch hold;     They used to grab it and shake it     And joggle it up and down     And turn dear Grandfather yaller     Except when they turned him brown;     I remember when we was married     His liver was lively and gay,     A kickin an rippin an givin     Dear Ezry new pains evry day;     It used to turn clear over backwards     An palpitate wussn a pump     An give him the janders and yallers     An bounce around thumpty-thump;     But now it is torpid and dormant     And painless and quiet and cold;     Ah, me! alls so peaceful an quiet     Since Grandfathers liver s grown old!     Then Grandmother wiped a new teardrop     And sighed: It is just like I suz     T th parson: Grandfathers liver     Aint what it used to was.