Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A CHRISTMAS MEMORY (2), by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY (2), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Ma she's home - an' I'm 'way here
Last Line: I ist only want my ma!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Christmas; Family Life; Nativity, The; Relatives


Ma she's home. -- An' I'm 'way here
At my A'nty's, vistun'!
A'nty allus calls me "Dear,"
An' ist lets me romp an' run
An' don't never scold me none
Like sometimes she ust to do
When my Ma she be here, too.

Pa he bringed me here to stay
'Tel 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 uvvers 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 -- 'caus my
Ma she's nuver 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 -- 'tel A'nty come
Git me while he's rockin' yet.

A'nty he'p me, 'tel I be
Purt'-nigh strip-pud nen hug me
In bofe arms an' life 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' "Tweedledee" 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
Anykind he ever brings! --
Don't want A'nty! -- don't want Pa! --
I ist only want my Ma!





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