Classic and Contemporary Poetry
AN OLD YEAR'S ADDRESS, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I have twankled the strings of the twinkering rain Last Line: He had fuzzled and fazzled and fizzled away! Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F. Subject(s): Holidays; New Year | ||||||||
"I have twankled the strings of the twinkering rain; I have burnished the meteor's mail; I have bridled the wind When he whinnied and whined With a bunch of stars tied to his tail; But my sky-rocket hopes, hanging over the past, Must fuzzle and fazzle and fizzle at last!" I had waded far out in a drizzling dream, And my fancies had spattered my eyes With a vision of dread, With a number ten head, And a form of diminutive size -- That wavered and wagged in a singular way As he wound himself up and proceeded to say, -- "I have trimmed all my corns with the blade of the moon; I have picked every tooth with a star: And I thrill to recall That I went through it all Like a tune through a tickled guitar. I have ripped up the rainbow and raveled the ends When the sun and myself were particular friends." And pausing again, and producing a sponge And wiping the tears from his eyes, He sank in a chair With a technical air That he struggled in vain to disguise, -- For a sigh that he breathed, as I over him leant, Was haunted and hot with a peppermint scent. "Alas!" he continued in quavering tones As a pang rippled over his face, "The life was too fast For the pleasure to last In my very unfortunate case; And I'm going" -- he said as he turned to adjust A fuse in his bosom, -- "I'm going to -- BUST!" I shrieked and awoke with the sullen che-boom Of a five-pounder filling my ears; And a roseate bloom Of a light in the room I saw through the mist of my tears, -- But my guest of the night never saw the display, He had fuzzled and fazzled and fizzled away! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NEW YEAR'S POEM by MARGARET AVISON A SPEED OF HISTORY by MARGARET AVISON NEW YEAR'S DAY by DAVID LEHMAN LINES FOR THE NEW YEAR by JULIE CARR I AM RUNNING INTO A NEW YEAR by LUCILLE CLIFTON FOR THE NEW YEAR (2) by ROBERT CREELEY A BOY'S MOTHER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY |
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