Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A LOCAL POLITICIAN FROM AWAY BACK, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A LOCAL POLITICIAN FROM AWAY BACK, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Jedge is good at argyin'--
Last Line: Sence back in '56.
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Judges; Money; Politics & Government


JEDGE is good at argyin' --
No mistake in that!
Most folks 'at tackles him
He'll skin 'em like a cat!
You see, the Jedge is read up,
And b'en in politics,
Hand-in-glove, you might say,
Sence back in '56.

Elected to the Shurrif, first,
Then elected Clerk;
Went into lawin' then,
And buckled down to work;
Practised three or four terms,
Then he run for jedge --
Speechified a little 'round,
And went in like a wedge!

Run fer Legislatur' twic't --
Made her, ever' pop!
Keeps on the way he's doin',
Don't know where he'll stop!
Some thinks he's got his eye
On the gov'nership; --
Well, ef he tuk the track,
Guess he'd make the trip.

But I started out to tell ye --
(Now I allus liked the man --
Not fer his politics,
But social', understan'! --
Fer, 's regards to my views,
Political and sich. --
When we come together there
We're purty ap' to hitch) --

Ketched him in at Knox's shop
On'y t'other day --
Gittin' shaved, the Jedge was,
Er somepin' thataway. --
Well, I tetched him up some
On the silver bill: --
Jedge says, "I won't discuss it;"
I says, "You will!"

I-says-ee, "I reckon
You'll concede with me,
Coin's the on'y ginuine
Money," I-says-ee;
Says I, "What's a dollar-bill?"
Says I, "What's a ten --
Er forty-'leven hunderd of 'em?
Give us specie, then!"

I seed I was a-gittin'
The Jedge kind o' red
Around the gills. He hawked some
And cle'red his throat and said --
"Facts is too complicated
'Bout the bill in view,"
Squirmed and told the barber then
He wisht he'd hurry through.

'Ll, then, I knowed I had him, --
And the crowd around the fire
Was all a-winkin' at me,
As the barber raised him higher --
Says I, "jedge, what's a dollar? --
Er a half-un," I-says-ee --
"What's a quarter? -- What's a dime?"
"What's cents?" says he.

W'y, I had him fairly b'ilin'!
"You needn't comb my hair,"
He says to the barber --
"I want fresh air;"
And you'd 'a' died a-laughin'
To 'a' seed him grab his hat,
As I-says-ee, says I, "Judge,
Where you goin' at!"

Jedge is good at argyin',
By-and-large; and yit
Beat him at his own game
And he's going' to git!
And yit the Jedge is read up,
And b'en in politics,
Hand-in-glove, you might say,
Sence back in '56.





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