Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BILLY GOODIN', by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Look so neat an' sweet in all yer Last Line: A-eatin'! An' a-eatin'! An' a-eatin'! Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Children; Food & Eating; Childhood | ||||||||
A big piece o' pie, and a big piece o' puddin' -- I laid it all by fer little Billy Goodin'! -- BOY POET. LOOK so neat an' sweet in all yer frills an' fancy pleatin'! Better shet yer kitchen, though, afore you go to Meetin'! -- Better hide yer mince-meat an' stewed fruit an' plums! Better hide yer pound-cake an' bresh away the crumbs! Better hide yer cubbord-key when Billy Goodin' comes, A-eatin'! an' a-eatin'! an' a-eatin'! Sight o' Sund'y-doin's done 'at ain't done in Meetin'! Sun acrost yer garden-patch a-pourin' an' a-beatin'; Meller apples drappin' in the weeds an' roun' the groun' -- Clingstones an' sugar-pears a-ist a-plunkin' down! -- Better kind o' comb the grass 'fore Billy comes aroun', A-eatin'! an' a-eatin'! an' a-eatin'! Billy Goodin' ain't a-go' to go to any Meetin'! We 'ull watch an' ketch an' give the little sneak a beatin'! -- Better hint we want'o stay 'n' snoop yer grapes an' plums! Better eat 'em all yerse'f an' suck yer stingy thumbs! -- Won't be nothin' anyhow when Billy Goodin' comes! -- A-eatin'! an' a-eatin'! an' a-eatin'! | 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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