Ben King's Verse


This is a volume of Benjamin King's collected verse, published shortly after his sudden death in 1894. The American humorist was very famous during his lifetime, and is still widely referenced and quoted until today. This volume was published in Chicago after his death, reportedly outselling any other volume of poetry in Michigan for 25 years after being published. It is also prefaced by two short biographies by John McGovern and Opie Read. - Summary by Carolin (3 hr 35 min)

Chapters

Introduction by John McGovern
Biography by Opie Read
If I Should Die
Say When, and Say It
Gittin' My Soul Inter Shape
Evolution
Gedder in Yo' Grain
Jane Jones
Elopement
Her Folks an' Hiz'n
The Yaller Jackets' Nest
How Hank Died
How Often
Renton Harbor, Mich.
Asphodel
The Flowers' Ball
De Sun's Comin' Back
The River St. Joe
The Robin and the Chicken
Baby Up at Battenberg's
No Harm Done
The Fates
Paraphrase
If I can be by Her
Toboggan
De Bugel on de Hill
Old St. Joe
The Tramp
The Chautauquan Maid
I'm a Bluejay
'Rastus King
That Valentine
De Good Ship
A Casual Observation
Like the New Friends Best
A Negro Song of Home
S'posin'
Little 'Rasmus
Nobody Knows
She does not Hear
Down the Mississippi
The Mermaid
De Blackbird Fetched de Spring
Appearances
The Girl with the Jersey
If my Wife Taught School
The Old Spinning Wheel
The Owl and the Crow
De Clouds am Gwin ter Pass
A Summer's Afternoon
I Fed the Fishes
Ole Bossie Cow
That Cat
A Frog's Thanksgiving
Lovey-Loves
Hank Spink
The Nile
Like de Ole Mule Bes'
De Ribber ob Life
The Cat o' Nine Tails
The Hair-Tonic Bottle
De Circus Turkey
Sofie Jakobowski
Sunrise
The Woodticks
Didn't we, Jim?
The Post-Driver
Lef' de Ole Hoss Out
Ec-A-Lec-Tic Fits
Keep Him a Baby
Angeliny
De Eyarfquake
The Pessimist
But Then
Presque Isle
Beulah Land
The Blackbird and the Thrush
De Spring-House
Under Obligations
Cleopatra and Charmian
Pinkey
The Bung Town Canal
De Massa
Coonie in de Holler
After Weidenfeller Goes
Zaccheus
A Retrospection
St. Patrick's Day
Injun Summah
'Cause it's Gittin' Spring
Decorate de Cabin
The Ultimatum
Dreamy Days
When the Stage Gits in
The Cultured Girl Again
The Cushville Hop
Gord Only Knows
Jes' Take my Advice
Patriotism and a Pension
The Old Musician's Fate
A Record from 'way back
Thanksgibbin in Ole Virginny
Grave Matters
Comin' Christmas Morn
Sad Fate of Yim Yohnsen
Legend of the St. Joseph
Little Jude
Little Pucken Singer
Down in Walhallalah