Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A LITTLE LAME BOY'S VIEWS, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A LITTLE LAME BOY'S VIEWS, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: On 'scursion-days - an' shows - an'
Last Line: They ain't no bad folks anywheres!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Boys; Carnivals; Country Life; Physical Disabilities; Handicapped; Handicaps; Physically Challenged; Cripples


ON 'Scursion-days -- an' Shows -- an' Fairs --
They ain't no bad folks anywheres! --
On street-cars -- same as you --
Seems like somebody allus sees
I'm lame, an' takes me on their knees,
An' holds my crutches, too --
An' asts me what's my name, an' pays
My fare theirse'f -- On all Big Days!

The mob all scrowdges you an' makes
Enough o' bluffs, fer goodness-sakes!
But none of 'em ain't mad --
They're only lettin' on. -- I know; --
An' I can tell you why it's so:
They're all of 'em too glad --
They're ever' one, jes' glad as me
To be there, er they wouldn't be!

The man that sells the tickets snoops
My "one-er" in, but sort o' stoops
An' grins out at me -- then
Looks mean an' business-like an' sucks
His big mustache at me an' chucks
Too much change out again. --
He's a smooth citizen, an' yit
He don't fool me one little bit!

An' then, inside -- fer all the jam --
Folks, seems-like, all knows who I am,
An' tips me nods an' winks;
An' even country-folks has made
Me he'p eat pie an' marmalade,
With bottled milk fer "drinks"! --
Folks all's so good to me that I --
Sometimes -- I nearly purt' near' cry.

An' all the kids, high-toned er pore,
Seems better than they wuz before,
An' wants to kind o' "stand
In" with a feller -- see him through
The free lay-out an' sideshows, too,
An' do the bloomin' "grand"!
On 'Scursion-days -- an' Shows an' Fairs --
They ain't no bad folks anywheres!





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