Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IT'S GOT TO BE, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IT'S GOT TO BE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: When it's got to be,' - like I always say
Last Line: "as I say ""good-by! -- good-by!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Death; Life; Past; Dead, The


"WHEN it's got to be," -- like I always say,
As I notice the years whiz past,
And know each day is a yesterday,
When we size it up, at last, --
Same as I said when my boyhood went
And I knowed we had to quit, --
"It's got to be, and it's goin' to be!" --
So I said "Good-by" to it.

It's got to be, and it's goin' to be!
So at least I always try
To kind o' say in a hearty way, --
"Well, it's got to be. Good-by!"

The time just melts like a late, last snow, --
When it's got to be, it melts!
But I aim to keep a cheerful mind,
Ef I can't keep nothin' else!
I knowed, when I come to twenty-one,
That I'd soon be twenty-two, --
So I waved one hand at the soft young man,
And I said, "Good-by to you!"

It's got to be, and it's goin' to be!
So at least I always try
To kind o' say, in a cheerful way, --
"Well, it's got to be. -- Good-by!"

They kep' a-goin', the years and years,
Yet still I smiled and smiled, --
For I'd said "Good-by" to my single life,
And now had a wife and child:
Mother and son and the father -- one, --
Till, last, on her bed of pain,
She jes' smiled up, like she always done, --
And I said "Good-by" again.

It's got to be, and it's goin' to be!
So at least I always try
To kind o' say, in a humble way, --
"Well, it's got to be. Good-by!"

And then my boy -- as he growed to be
Almost a man in size, --
Was more than a pride and joy to me,
With his mother's smilin' eyes. --
He gimme the slip, when the War broke out,
And followed me. And I
Never knowed till the first fight's end . . .
I found him, and then, . . . "Good-by."

It's got to be, and it's goin' to be!
So at least I always try
To kind o' say, in a patient way,
"Well, it's got to be. Good-by!"

I have said, "Good-by! -- Good-by! -- Good-by!"
With my very best good will,
All through life from the first, -- and I
Am a cheerful old man still:
But it's got to end, and it's goin' to end!
And this is the thing I'll do, --
With my last breath I will laugh, O Death,
And say "Good-by" to you! . . .
It's got to be! And again I say, --
When his old scythe circles high,
I'll laugh -- of course, in the kindest way, --
As I say "Good-by! -- Good-by!"





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