Classic and Contemporary Poetry
JONEY, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Had a harelip - joney had: Last Line: Purty is as purty does! Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Children; Childhood | ||||||||
HAD a harelip -- Joney had: Spiled his looks, and Joney knowed it: Fellers tried to bore him, bad -- But ef ever he got mad, He kep' still and never showed it. 'Druther have his mouth, all pouted And split up, and like it wuz, Than the ones 'at laughed about it. -- Purty is as purty does! Had to listen ruther clos't 'Fore you knowed what he wuz givin' You; and yet, without no boast, Joney he wuz jes' the most Entertainin' talker livin'! Take the Scriptur's and run through 'em, Might say, like a' auctioneer, And 'ud argy and review 'em 'At wuz beautiful to hear! Harelip and impediment, Both wuz bad, and both ag'in' him -- But the old folks where he went, 'Peared like, knowin' his intent, 'Scused his mouth fer what wuz in him. And the childern all loved Joney -- And he loved 'em back, you bet! -- Putt their arms around him -- on'y None had ever kissed him yet! In young company, someway, Boys 'ud grin at one another On the sly; and girls 'ud lay Low, with nothin' much to say, Er leave Joney with their mother. Many and many a time he's fetched 'em Candy by the paper-sack, And turned right around and ketched 'em Makin' mouths behind his back! S'prised, sometimes, the slurs he took. -- Chap said onc't his mouth looked sorter Like a fish's mouth 'ud look When he'd be'n jerked off the hook And plunked back into the worter. -- Same durn feller -- it's su'prisin', But it's facts -- 'at stood and cherred From the bank that big babtizin' 'Pike-bridge accident occurred! -- Cherred fer Joney while he give Life to little childern drowndin'! Which wuz fittenest to live -- Him 'at cherred, er him 'at div' And saved thirteen lives? . . . They found one Body, three days later, floated Down the by-o, eight mile' south, All so colored-up and bloated -- On'y knowed him by his mouth! Had a harelip -- Joney had -- Folks 'at filed apast all knowed it. -- Them 'at ust to smile looked sad, But ef he thought good er bad, He kep' still and never showed it. 'Druther have that mouth, all pouted And split up, and like it wuz, Than the ones 'at laughed about it. -- Purty is as purty does! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE THREE CHILDREN by JOSEPHINE JACOBSEN CHILDREN SELECTING BOOKS IN A LIBRARY by RANDALL JARRELL COME TO THE STONE ... by RANDALL JARRELL THE LOST WORLD by RANDALL JARRELL A SICK CHILD by RANDALL JARRELL CONTINENT'S END by ROBINSON JEFFERS ON THE DEATH OF FRIENDS IN CHILDHOOD by DONALD JUSTICE THE POET AT SEVEN by DONALD JUSTICE A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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