Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A FALL-CRICK VIEW OF THE EARTHQUAKE, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I kin hump my back and take the rain Last Line: It 'ud husk you out o' yer gravel Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Disasters; Earthquakes; Graves; Tombs; Tombstones | ||||||||
I KIN hump my back and take the rain, And I don't keer how she pours; I kin keep kind o' ca'm in a thunderstorm, No matter how loud she roars; I hain't much skeered o' the lightnin', Ner I hain't sich awful shakes Afeard o' cyclones -- but I don't want none O' yer dad-burned old earthquakes! As long as my legs keeps stiddy, And long as my head keeps plum', And the buildin' stays in the front lot, I still kin whistle, some! But about the time the old clock Flops off'n the mantel-shelf, And the bureau skoots fer the kitchen, I'm a-goin' to skoot, myself! Plague-take! ef you keep me stabled While any earthquakes is around! -- I'm jes' like the stock, -- I'll beller And break fer the open ground! And I 'low you'd be as nervous And in jes' about my fix, When yer whole farm slides from inunder you, And on'y the mor'gage sticks! Now cars hain't a-goin's to kill you Ef you don't drive 'crost the track; Crediters never'll jerk you up Ef you go and pay 'em back; You kin stand all moral and mundane storms Ef you'll on'y jes' behave -- But a' EARTHQUAKE: -- Well, ef it wanted you It 'ud husk you out o' yer gravel | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE SURVIVOR AMONG GRAVES by RANDALL JARRELL SUBJECTED EARTH by ROBINSON JEFFERS THE GRAVE OF MRS. HEMANS by CECIL FRANCES ALEXANDER THOSE GRAVES IN ROME by LARRY LEVIS NOT TO BE DWELLED ON by HEATHER MCHUGH ONE LAST DRAW OF THE PIPE by PAUL MULDOON ETRUSCAN TOMB by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS ENDING WITH A LINE FROM LEAR by MARVIN BELL A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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