The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

POLISH HOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

THERE WAS THIS POLACK DIGGING DITCHES. NOT TOO FAR
FROM WHERE HE WAS WORKING, THERE WAS A CONSTRUCTION
WORKER, HIGH UP ON TOP THE BUILDING. THIS POOR
POLACK, THE MORE HE DUG, THE MORE HE THOUGHT, "WHY
CAN'T I WORK ONE JOB LIKE THAT?" SO WHEN THE POLACK'S
FOREMAN WALKED BY, HE ASKED HIM, "SAY, WHY CAN'T I WORK
WITH THAT GUY UP THERE." THE FOREMAN SAYS, "I DON'T
KNOW. GO UP AND ASK HIM." SO THE POLACK CLIMBS
ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE BUILDING, AND HE SAYS TO
THE MAN, "HEY, HOW CAN I GET A JOB LIKE THIS." THE
CONSTRUCTION WORKER LOOKED AT THE POLACK AND HE SAYS,
"YOU CAN NEVER HAVE A JOB LIKE THIS." "WHY?" ASKS THE
POLACK. "WELL," ANSWERS THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER, "YOU
DON'T HAVE COMMON SENSE." SO THE POLACK ASKS, "WHAT'S
COMMON SENSE?" "HERE, I'LL SHOW YOU," SAYS THE
CONSTRUCTION WORKER. HE PUTS HIS HAND AGAINST A STEEL
BEAM AND SAYS TO THE POLACK, "SEE MY HAND. HIT IT
AS HARD AS YOU CAN." AND THE POLACK DOES.
THE NEXT DAY THE POLACK WAS BACK DIGGING DITCHES.
THE FOREMAN COMES ALONG AND ASKS HIM, "WELL, DID YOU FIND
OUT WHY YOU CAN'T WORK UP THERE?" "YES," REPLIES THE
POLACK, "BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE COMMON SENSE." "WHAT DO
YOU MEAN?" ASKS THE FOREMAN. "I'LL SHOW YOU," SAYS
THE POLACK. LOOKING AROUND, HE COULDN'T FIND A STEEL
BEAM, SO HE HOLDS HIS HAND UP TO HIS FACE AND SAYS,
"SEE MY HAND? WELL HIT IT AS HARD AS YOU CAN."

Submitter comment:

THIS WAS COLLECTED 3-5-1967 WHEN MY COUSIN RON VISITED
ME. WE ARE BOTH PART POLISH AND ENJOY EXCHANGING
POLISH HOKES WITH EACH OTHER.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN