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The Book of Joyous Children

by James Whitcomb Riley

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The Jaybird

The Jaybird he’s my favorite
   Of all the birds they is!
I think he’s quite a stylish sight
   In that blue suit of his:
An’ when he’ lights an’ shuts his wings,
   His coat’s a “cutaway”—
I guess it’s only when he sings
   You’d know he wuz a jay.

I like to watch him when he’s lit
   In top of any tree,
’Cause all birds git wite out of it
   When he ‘lights, an’ they see
How proud he act’, an’ swell an’ spread
   His chest out more an’ more,
An’ raise the feathers on his head
   Like it’s cut pompadore!

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