Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE RUNAWAY BOY, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Wunst I sassed my pa, an' he Last Line: I won't run away no more! Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Family Life; Punishment; Wandering & Wanderers; Relatives | ||||||||
WUNST I sassed my Pa, an' he Won't stand that, an' punished me, -- Nen when he wuz gone that day, I slipped out an' runned away. I tooked all my copper-cents, An' clumbed over our back fence In the jimpson-weeds 'at growed Ever'where all down the road. Nen I got out there, an' nen I runned some -- an' runned again, When I met a man 'at led A big cow 'at shooked her head. I went down a long, long lane Where wuz little pigs a-playin'; An' a grea'-big pig went "Booh!" An' jumped up, an' skeered me too. Nen I scampered past, an' they Was somebody hollered "Hey!" An' I ist looked ever'where, An' they wuz nobody there. I want to, but I'm 'fraid to try To go back. . . . An' by an' by Somepin' hurts my th'oat inside -- An' I want my Ma -- an' cried. Nen a grea'-big girl come through Where's a gate, an' telled me who Am I? an' ef I tell where My home's at she'll show me there. But I couldn't ist but tell What's my name; an' she says "well," An' ist tooked me up an' says "She know where I live, she guess." Nen she telled me hug wite close Round her neck! -- an' off she goes Skippin' up the street! An' nen Purty soon I'm home again. An' my Ma, when she kissed me, Kissed the big girl too, an' she Kissed me -- ef I p'omise shore I won't run away no more! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MY AUNT ELLA MAE by MICHAEL S. HARPER THE GOLDEN SHOVEL by TERRANCE HAYES LIZARDS AND SNAKES by ANTHONY HECHT THE BOOK OF A THOUSAND EYES: I LOVE by LYN HEJINIAN CHILD ON THE MARSH by ANDREW HUDGINS MY MOTHER'S HANDS by ANDREW HUDGINS PLAYING DEAD by ANDREW HUDGINS THE GLASS HAMMER by ANDREW HUDGINS INSECT LIFE OF FLORIDA by LYNDA HULL A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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