Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A CHRISTMAS MEMORY (1), by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY (1), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Pa he bringed me here to stay
Last Line: I ist only want my ma!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Christmas; Memory; Santa Claus; Nativity, The; Nicholas, Saint


PA he bringed me here to stay
'Til my Ma she's well. -- An' nen
He's go' hitch up, Chris'mus-day,
An' come take me back again
Wher' my Ma's at! Won't I be
Tickled when he comes fer me!

My Ma an' my A'nty they
'Uz each-uvver's sisters. Pa --
A'nty telled me, th' other day, --
He comed here an' married Ma. . . .
A'nty said nen, "Go run play,
I must work now!" . . . An' I saw,
When she turn' her face away,
She 'uz cryin'. -- An' nen I
'Tend-like I "run play" -- an' cry.

This-here house o' A'nty's wher'
They 'uz borned -- my Ma an' her! --
An' her Ma 'uz my Ma's Ma,
An' her Pa 'uz my Ma's Pa --
Ain't that funny? -- An' they're dead:
An' this-here's "th' ole Homestead." --
An' my A'nty said, an' cried,
It's mine, too, ef my Ma died --
Don't know what she mean -- 'cause my
Ma she's nuvver go' to die!

When Pa bringed me here 't'uz night --
'Way dark night! An' A'nty spread
Me a piece -- an' light the light
An' say I must go to bed. --
I cry not to -- but Pa said,
"Be good boy now, like you telled
Mommy 'at you're go' to be!"
An', when he 'uz kissin' me
My good night, his cheek's all wet
An' taste salty. -- An' he held
Wite close to me an' rocked some
An' laughed-like -- 'til A'nty come
Git me while he's rockin' yet.

A'nty he'p me, 'til I be
Purt' nigh strip-pud -- nen hug me
In bofe arms an' lif' me 'way
Up in her high bed -- an' pray
Wiv me, -- 'bout my Ma -- an' Pa --
An' ole Santy Claus -- an' Sleigh --
An' Reindeers an' little Drum --
Yes, an' Picture-books, "Tom Thumb,"
An' "Three Bears," an' ole "Fee Faw" --
Yes, an' "Tweedle-Dee" an' "Dum,"
An' "White Knight" an' "Squidjicum,"
An' most things you ever saw! --
An' when A'nty kissed me, she
'Uz all cryin' over me!

Don't want Santy Claus -- ner things
Any kind he ever brings! --
Don't want A'nty! -- Don't want Pa! --
I ist only want my Ma!





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