Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HOW IT HAPPENED, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

HOW IT HAPPENED, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I got to thinkin' of her - both her parunts dead and gone
Last Line: So I got to thinkin' of her -- and -- it happened thataway.
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Variant Title(s): So I Got To Thinkin' Of Her
Subject(s): Death; Marriage; Thought; Dead, The; Weddings; Husbands; Wives; Thinking


I GOT to thinkin' of her -- both her parunts dead and gone --
And all her sisters married off, and none but her and John
A-livin' all alone thare in that lonesome sorto' way,
And him a blame' old bachelor, confirm'der ev'ry day!
I'd knowed 'em all, from childern, and theyr daddy from the time
He settled in the neghborhood, and hadn't ary a dime
Er dollar, when he married, fer to start housekeepin' on! --
So I got to thinkin' of her -- both her parunts dead and gone!

I got to thinkin' of her; and a-wundern what she done
That all her sisters kep' a-gittin' married, one by one,
And her without no chances -- and the best girl of the pack --
A' old maid, with her hands, you might say, tied behind her back!
And Mother, too, afore she died, -- she ust to jest take on,
When none of 'em wuz left, you know, but Evaline and John,
And jest declare to goodness 'at the young men must be bline
To not see what a wife they'd git ef they got Evaline!

I got to thinkin' of her: In my great affliction she
Wuz sich a comfert to us, and so kind and neghborly, --
She'd come, and leave her housework, fer to he'p out little Jane,
And talk of her own mother 'at she'd never see again --
They'd sometimes cry together -- though, fer the most part, she
Would have the child so rickonciled and happy-like 'at we
Felt lonesomer'n ever when she'd putt her bonnet on
And say she'd railly haf to be a-gittin' back to John!

I got to thinkin' of her, as I say, -- and more and more
I'd think of her dependence, and the burdens 'at she bore, --
Her parunts both a-bein' dead, and all her sisters gone
And married off, and her a-livin' thare alone with John --
You might say jest a-toilin' and a-slavin' out her life
Fer a man 'at hadn't pride enugh to git hisse'f a wife --
'Less some one married Evaline and packed her off some day! --
So I got to thinkin' of her -- and -- It happened thataway.





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