Classic and Contemporary Poetry
JAP MILLER, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Jap miller down at martinsville Last Line: And jes' concede jap miller is the best man ever wuz! Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Quarrels; Arguments; Disagreements | ||||||||
JAP MILLER down at Martinsville's the blamedest feller yit! When he starts in a-talkin' other folks is apt to quit! -- 'Pears like that mouth o' his'n wuzn't made fer nothin' else But jes' to argify 'em down and gether in their pelts: He'll talk you down on tariff; er he'll talk you down on tax, And prove the pore man pays 'em all -- and them's about the fac's! -- Religen, law, er politics, prize-fightin' er baseball -- Jes' tetch Jap up a little and he'll post you 'bout 'em all. And the comicalist feller ever tilted back a cheer And tuk a chaw tobacker kind o' like he didn't keer. -- There's where the feller's stren'th lays, -- he's so common-like and plain, -- They hain't no dude about old Jap, you bet you -- nary grain! They 'lected him to Council and it never turned his head. And didn't make no differunce what anybody said, -- He didn't dress no finer, ner rag out in fancy clothes; But his voice in Council-meetin's is a turrer to his foes. He's fer the pore man ever' time! And in the last campaign He stumped old Morgan County, through the sunshine and the rain, And helt the banner up'ards from a-trailin' in the dust, And cut loose on monopolies and cuss'd and cuss'd and cuss'd! He'd tell some funny story ever' now and then, you know, Tel, blame it! it wuz better'n a Jack-o'-lantern show! And I'd go furder, yit, to-day, to hear old Jap norate Than any high-toned orater 'at ever stumped the State! W'y, that-air blame Jap Miller, with his keen sircastic fun, Has got more friends than ary candidate 'at ever run! Don't matter what his views is, when he states the same to you, They allus coincide with yourn, the same as two and two: You can't take issue with him -- er, at least, they hain't no sense In startin' in to down him, so you better not commence. -- The best way's jes' to listen, like your humble servant does, And jes' concede Jap Miller is the best man ever wuz! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE QUARREL by KATHERINE MANSFIELD DOMESDAY BOOK: CHARLES WARREN, THE SHERIFF by EDGAR LEE MASTERS OUR PRINCIPAL by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE OWEN SEAMAN; ESTABLISHES ENTENE CORDIALE IN MANNER GUY WETMORE CARRYL by LOUIS UNTERMEYER AFTER THE QUARREL by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR THE SOCIETY UPON THE STANISLAUS by FRANCIS BRET HARTE EARLY EVENING QUARREL by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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