Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PAP'S OLD SAYIN', by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PAP'S OLD SAYIN', by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Pap had one old-fashioned sayin'
Last Line: "shet up, and eat yer vittels!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Advice; Fathers


PAP had one old-fashioned sayin'
That I'll never quite fergit --
And they's seven growed-up childern
Of us rickollects it yit! --
Settin' round the dinner-table,
Talkin' 'bout our friends, perhaps,
Er abusin' of our neghbors,
I kin hear them words o' Pap's --
"Shet up, and eat yer vittels!"

Pap he'd never argy with us,
Ner cut any subject short
Whilse we all kep' clear o' gossip,
And wuz actin' as we ort:
But ef we'd git out o' order --
Like sometimes a fambly is, --
Faultin' folks, er one another,
Then we'd hear that voice o' his --
"Shet up, and eat yer vittels!"

Wuz no hand hisse'f at talkin' --
Never hadn't much to say, --
Only, as I said, pervidin'
When we'd rile him thataway:
Then he'd allus lose his temper
Spite o' fate, and jerk his head
And slam down his case-knife vicious,
Whilse he glared around and said --
"Shet up, and eat yer vittels!"

Mind last time 'at Pap was ailin'
With a misery in his side,
And had hobbled in the kitchen --
Jes' the day before he died, --
Laury Jane she ups and tells him,
"Pap, you're pale as pale kin be --
Hain't ye 'feard them-air cowcumbers
Hain't good fer ye?" And says he,
"Shet up, and eat yer vittels!"

Well! I've saw a-many a sorrow, --
Forty year', through thick and thin;
I've got best, -- and I've got worsted,
Time and time and time ag'in! --
But I've met a-many a trouble
That I hain't run on to twice,
Haltin'-like and thinkin' over
Them-air words o' Pap's advice:
"Shet up, and eat yer vittels!"





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