Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, NEVER TALK BACK, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

NEVER TALK BACK, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Never talk back! Sich things is
Last Line: With one good jolt of silence than a half a dozen kicks!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Insomnia; Quarrels; Sleeplessness; Arguments; Disagreements


NEVER talk back! sich things is repperhensible;
A feller only hurts hisse'f that jaws a man that's hot;
In a quarrel, ef you'll only keep your mouth shet and act sensible,
The man that does the talkin' 'll git worsted every shot!

Never talk back to a feller that's abusin' you --
Jes' let him carry on, and rip, and snort, and swear;
And when he finds his blamin' and defamin' 's jes' amusin' you,
You've got him clean kaflummixed, -- and you want to hold him there!

Never talk back, and wake up the whole community
And call a man a liar, over Law, er Politics. --
You can lift and land him furder and with gracefuller impunity
With one good jolt of silence than a half a dozen kicks!





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