Classic and Contemporary Poetry
JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY (FROM A WESTERNER'S POINT OF VIEW), by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: No matter what you call it Last Line: Like our own whitcomb riley. Subject(s): Riley, James Whitcomb (1849-1916) | ||||||||
No matter what you call it, Whether genius, or art, He sings the simple songs that come The closest to your heart. Fur trim an' skillful phrases, I do not keer a jot; 'Tain't the words alone, but feelin's, That tech the tender spot. An' that's jest why I love him, -- Why, he's got sech human feelin', An' in ev'ry song he gives us, You kin see it creepin', stealin', Through the core the tears go tricklin', But the edge is bright an' smiley; I never saw a poet Like that poet Whitcomb Riley. His heart keeps beatin' time with our'n In measures fast or slow; He tells us jest the same ol' things Our souls have learned to know. He paints our joys an' sorrers In a way so stric'ly true, That a body can't help knowin' That he has felt them too. If there's a lesson to be taught, He never fears to teach it, An' he puts the food so good an' low That the humblest one kin reach it. Now in our time, when poets rhyme For money, fun, or fashion, 'Tis good to hear one voice so clear That thrills with honest passion. So let the others build their songs, An' strive to polish highly, -- There's none of them kin tech the heart Like our own Whitcomb Riley. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DIVIDED HONORS by ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON MEMORY'S PAGEANT; IN MEMORY OF JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY by EVA D. THRASHER TO JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY; ON HIS 'BOOK OF JOYOUS CHILDREN' by HENRY VAN DYKE JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY by ROBERT JONES BURDETTE JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST A BANJO SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A BOY'S SUMMER SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A CHRISTMAS FOLKSONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A CORN SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A DEATH SONG by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A HYMN; AFTER READING 'LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT' by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |
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