The Churning Song

Image from How People Used to Live on Rootsweb.

THE CHURNING SONG.

Apron on and dash in hand,
O’er the old churn here I stand —
Cachug!
How the thick cream spurts and flies,
Now on shoes and now in eyes!
Cachug! Cachug!

Ah! how soon I tired get!
But the butter lingers yet;
Cachug!
Aching back and weary arm,
Quite rob churning of its charm!
Cachug! Cachug!

See the golden specks appear!
And the churn rings sharp and clear —
Cachink!
Arms, that have to flag begun,
Work on, you will soon be done —
Cachink! Cachink!

Rich flakes cling to lid and dash;
Hear the thin milk’s watery splash!
Calink!
Sweetest music to the ear,
For it says the butter’s here!
Calink! Calink!

— Silas Dinsmore, in St Nicholas.

The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) Mar 4, 1899

Tags: 1899, Poetry