Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BUT THEN, by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KING


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BUT THEN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: John oswald muguffin he wanted to die
Last Line: But then.
Alternate Author Name(s): King, Ben
Subject(s): Suicide


JOHN OSWALD MUGUFFIN he wanted to die
'Nd bring his career to an end;
Of course, well -- he didn't say nothin' to me --
But that's what he told every friend.
So one afternoon he went down to the pier,
'Nd folks saw him actin' most terribly queer;
He prayed 'nd he sung, put his hand up to cough
An' every one thought he was a-goin to jump off --
But he didn't.
He may jump tomorrer
Mornin' at ten --
Said he was goin' to
Try it again --
But then.

John Oswald he said he was tired of the earth --
Of its turmoil and struggle and strife --
'Nd he made up his mind a long, long time ago
He was just bound t' take his own life;
'Nd the very next time 'at he started to shave,
Determined to die, he wus goin' t' be brave;
So he stood up 'nd flourished the knife in despair
'Nd every one thought 'at he'd kill himself there --
But he didn't.
He says 'at tomorrer
Mornin' at ten
He has a notion to
Try it again --
But then.

He went and bought arsenic, bought paris green,
'Nd cobalt 'nd all kinds of stuff
'Nd he took great delight in leaving it 'round --
Of course that was done for a bluff --
Then he rigged up his room with a horrible thing,
That would blow his head off by pullin' a string.
Folks heard the explosion -- rushed up -- on his bed
John Oswald was lyin'. They whispered, "He's dead."
But he wasn't.
He riz up 'nd said:
Couldn't say when
He'd fully decide to
Try it again --
But then.





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