Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WHEN THE WORLD BU'STS THROUGH, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WHEN THE WORLD BU'STS THROUGH, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Where's a boy a-goin'
Last Line: "clean -- plum -- through!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Children; Disasters; Earthquakes; Farm Life; Childhood; Agriculture; Farmers


WHERE'S a boy a-goin',
An' what's he goin' to do,
An' how's he goin' to do it,
When the world bu'sts through?
Ma she says "she can't tell
What we're comin' to!"
An' Pop says "he's ist skeered
Clean -- plum -- through!"

S'pose we'd be a-playin'
Out in the street,
An' the ground 'ud split up
'Bout forty feet! --
Ma says "she ist knows
We 'ud tumble in";
An' Pop says "he bets you
Nen we wouldn't grin!"

S'pose we'd ist be 'tendin'
Like we had a show,
Down in the stable
Where we mustn't go, --
Ma says, "The earthquake
Might make it fall";
An' Pop says, "More'n like
Swaller barn an' all!"

Landy! ef we both wuz
Runnin' 'way from school,
Out in the shady woods
Where it's all so cool! --
Ma says "a big tree
Might sqush our head";
An' Pop says, "Chop 'em out
Both -- killed -- dead!"

But where's a boy goin',
An' what's he goin' to do,
An' how's he goin' to do it,
Ef the world bu'sts through?
Ma she says "she can't tell
What we're comin' to!"
An' Pop says "he's ist skeered
Clean -- plum -- through!"





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