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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


IRY AND BILLY AND JO by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: IRY AN' BILLY AN' JO!
Last Line: IRY AN' BILLY AN' JO.

IRY an' Billy an' Jo! --
Iry an' Billy's @3the boys,@1
An' @3Jo's@1 their @3dog,@1 you know, --
Their pictur's took all in a row.
Bet they kin kick up a noise --
Iry an' Billy, the boys,
An' that-air little dog Jo!

@3Iry's@1 the one 'at stands
Up there a-lookin' so mild
An' meek -- with his hat in his hands,
Like such a @3'bediant@1 child --
(@3Sakes-alive!@1) -- An' @3Billy@1 he sets
In the cheer an' holds on to Jo an' @3sweats@1
Hisse'f, a-lookin' so good! Ho-ho!
Iry an' Billy an' Jo!

Yit the way them boys, you know,
Usen to jes' turn in
An' fight over that dog Jo
Wuz a burnin'-shame-an'-a-sin! --
Iry @3he'd@1 argy 'at, by gee-whizz!
That-air little Jo-dog wuz @3his!@1 --
An' Billy @3he'd@1 claim it wuzn't so --
'Cause the dog wuz @3hisn!@1 -- An' at it they'd go,
Nip-an'-tugg, tooth-an'-toe-nail, you know --
Iry an' Billy an' Jo!

But their Pa -- (He wuz the marshal then) --
He 'tended-like 'at he @3jerked 'em up;@1
An' got a jury o' Brick-yard men
An' helt @3a trial@1 about the pup:
An' @3he@1 says @3he@1 jes' like to 'a' died
When the rest o' us town-boys @3testified@1 --
Regardin', you know,
Iry an' Billy an' Jo. --

'Cause we all knowed, when @3the Gipsies@1 they
Camped down here by the crick last Fall,
They brung Jo with 'em, 'an' give him away
To Iry an' Billy fer nothin' at all! --
So the jury fetched in the @3verdick@1 so
Jo he ain't @3neether@1 o' theirn fer @3shore@1 --
He's @3both@1 their dog, an' jes' no more!
An' so
They've quit quarrelin' long ago,
Iry an' Billy an' Jo.



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