Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, GOOD-BY ER HOWDY-DO, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

GOOD-BY ER HOWDY-DO, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Say good-by er howdy-do
Last Line: Say good-by er howdy-do!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Farewell; Parting


SAY good-by er howdy-do --
What's the odds betwixt the two?
Comin' -- goin', ev'ry day --
Best friends first to go away --
Grasp of hands you'd ruther hold
Than their weight in solid gold
Slips their grip while greetin' you. --
Say good-by er howdy-do!

Howdy-do, and then, good-by --
Mixes jes' like laugh and cry;
Deaths and births, and worst and best,
Tangled their contrariest;
Ev'ry jinglin' weddin'-bell
Skeerin' up some funer'l knell. --
Here's my song, and there's your sigh. --
Howdy-do, and then, good-by!

Say good-by er howdy-do --
Jes' the same to me and you;
'Taint worth while to make no fuss,
'Cause the job's put up on us!
Some One's runnin' this concern
That's got nothin' else to learn:
Ef He's willin', we'll pull through --
Say good-by er howdy-do!





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