The Poetry Corner

Jack The Giant Killer.

By James Whitcomb Riley

Bad Boy's Version. Tell you a story - an' it's a fac': - Wunst wuz a little boy, name wuz Jack, An' he had sword an' buckle an' strap Maked of gold, an' a "'visibul cap;" An' he killed Gi'nts 'at et whole cows - Th' horns an' all - an' pigs an' sows! But Jack, his golding sword wuz, oh! So awful sharp 'at he could go An' cut th' ole Gi'nts clean in two Fore 'ey knowed what he wuz goin' to do! An' one ole Gi'nt, he had four Heads, and name wuz "Bumblebore" - An' he wuz feered o' Jack - 'cause he, Jack, he killed six - five - ten - three, An' all o' th' uther ole Gi'nts but him: An' thay wuz a place Jack haf to swim 'Fore he could git t' ole "Bumblebore" - Nen thay was "griffuns" at the door: But Jack, he thist plunged in an' swum Clean acrost; an' when he come To th' uther side, he thist put on His "'visibul cap," an' nen, dog-gone! You could n't see him at all! - An' so He slewed the "griffuns" - boff, you know! Nen wuz a horn hunged over his head High on th' wall, an' words 'at read, - "Whoever kin this trumput blow Shall cause the Gi'nt's overth'ow!" An' Jack, he thist reached up an' blowed The stuffin' out of it! an' th'owed Th' castul-gates wide open, an' Nen tuck his gold sword in his han', An' thist marched in t' ole "Bumblebore," An', 'fore he knowed, he put 'bout four Heads on him - an' chopped 'em off, too! - Wisht 'at I'd been Jack! - don't you?