"My Fren'" by Hen-toh
On his leaving for the Army during the great war.
You my fren’, no diff’ence what say, anyone,
If I seen you now, or don’ see fo’ years.
You know reason, t’aint what I done,
You could look my eye, don’ seen it tears,
When you sed it: ‘Good-bye’.
You my pardner, you sed it one time,
It’s l-o-n-g ’go, but me, I don’ fo’get;
If you go flat bust, an’ I got one dime,
I know wha’ you could fin’ nickel, I bet,
Or mebbe ten cent.
It’s jus’ that way all time, me an’ you,
We bin know’d each otha’ how you say, well.
I don’ care fo’ hundred snakes what you do;
Even you tell it me: “You go to hell,”
I could do it, e-a-s-y.
You come back war-trail, it’s be jus’ same,
Kin’ a smile and sed it: “You my pardner yet?”
I jus’ look at you an’ sed it you name,
Mebbe so wink it, then sed it: “You bet!”
I don’ fo'gotten nothin’.