Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BILLY MILLER'S CIRCUS-SHOW, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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BILLY MILLER'S CIRCUS-SHOW, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: At billy miller's circus-show
Last Line: An' dances an' says funny things!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Circus


AT Billy Miller's Circus-Show --
In their old stable where it's at --
The boys pays twenty pins to go,
An' gits their money's-worth at that! --
'Cause Billy he can climb and chalk
His stockin'-feet an' purt' nigh walk
A tight-rope -- yes, an' ef he fall
He'll ketch, an' "skin a cat" -- 'at's all!

He ain't afeard to swing and hang
Ist by his legs! -- an' mayby stop
An' yell "Look out!" an' nen -- k-spang! --
He'll let loose, upside-down, an' drop
Wite on his hands! An' nen he'll do
"Contortion-acts" -- ist limber through
As "Injarubber Mens" 'at goes
With shore-fer-certain circus-shows!

At Billy Miller's Circus-Show
He's got a circus-ring -- an' they's
A dressin'-room, -- so's he can go
An' dress an' paint up when he plays
He's somepin' else; -- 'cause sometimes he's
"Ringmaster" -- bossin' like he please --
An' sometimes "Ephalunt" -- er "Bare-
Back Rider," prancin' out o' there!

An' sometimes -- an' the best of all! --
He's "The Old Clown," an' got on clo'es
All stripud, -- an' white hat, all tall
An' peakud -- like in shore-'nuff shows, --
An' got three-cornered red-marks, too,
On his white cheeks -- ist like they do! --
An' you'd ist die, the way he sings
An' dances an' says funny things!





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