Sound "Smahtah" at the Regatta

photo via blog.zagat.com

SOUND “SMAHTAH” AT THE REGATTA

Words by Gwendolyn Soper   ©2005

The Kennedy’s had

What you may very well call

The prahpuh way of speaking

With that New England drawl.

At the world’s lahgest picnic

Along the River Chahls,

Yo’uh likely to hea’uh new language

From the lady next to you in pearls:

“Little Catherine had her bahth last night.

She got bubbles up her nose.

We lahft and lahft ‘til we thought we’d die.

We hurt her feelings, I suppose.”

“This picnic’s divine, Penelope, dear.

The peetzer hits the spot.

The rowing crews look sweaty, though.

Coming Friday to our yacht?”

“Look they’re rowing!” (“No, it’s sculling, dear”)

“And the boats”, (“You mean shells”) “Are so thin!”

“How do they keep from tipping

And letting the woahtah in?”

“Quinzee Mahket is where I’m going

Tomorrow for lunch with Jack.”

“Try the finguh sandwiches with cukes.

They’uh divine with woahtuhcress.

“A’right, it’s time we go back home

To Woatuhtown before it’s dahk.

The stah’s ‘r out, I’m getting cold.

Wheuh’s the cah?”

“You pahked yo’uh cah neeuh Hahvud Yahd.”