Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, FIRE AT NIGHT, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

FIRE AT NIGHT, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Fire! Fire! Ring! And ring!
Last Line: Wonder where their old fire's at!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Bells; Fire; Night; Bedtime


FIRE! Fire! Ring! and ring!
Hear the old bell bang and ding!
Fire! Fire! 'way at night, --
Can't you hear? -- I think you might! --
Can't hear them-air clangin' bells? --
W'y, I can't hear nothin' else!
Fire! Ain't you 'wake at last! --
Hear them horses poundin' past --
Hear that ladder-wagon grind
Round the corner! -- and, behind,
Hear the hose-cart, turnin' short,
And the horses slip and snort,
As the engines clank-and-jar
Jolts the whole street, near and far.
Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire!
Can't you h'ist that winder higher?
La! they've all got past like "scat!" . . .
Night's as black as my old hat --
And it's rainin', too, at that! . . .
Wonder where their old fire's at!





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