Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN IDIOT, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN IDIOT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I'm on'y thist a' idiot
Last Line: Ain't thumbs and fingers funny things?
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Death; Ignorance; Dead, The; Dullness; Stupdity


I'M on'y thist a' idiot --
That's what folks calls a feller what
Ain't got no mind
Of any kind,
Ner don't know nothin' he's forgot. --
I'm one o' them -- But I know why
The bees buzz this way when they fly, --
'Cause honey it gits on their wings.
Ain't thumbs and fingers funny things?

What's money? Hooh! it's thist a hole
Punched in a round thing 'at won't roll
'Cause they's a string
Poked through the thing
And fastened round your neck -- that's all!
Ef I could git my money off,
I'd buy whole lots o' whoopin'-cough
And give it to the boy next door
Who died 'cause he ain't got no more.

What is it when you die? I know, --
You can't wake up ag'in, ner go
To sleep no more --
Ner kick, ner snore,
Ner lay and look and watch it snow;
And when folks slaps and pinches you --
You don't keer nothin' what they do.
No honey on the angels' wings!
Ain't thumbs and fingers funny things?





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