Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MOONSHINER'S SERENADE, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MOONSHINER'S SERENADE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The night's blind-black, an' I 'low
Last Line: I'll be twic't as good-again!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Flowers; Moon; Night; Roses; Singing & Singers; Bedtime


THE night's blind-black, an' I 'low the stars's
All skeered at that-air dog's bowwows!
I sensed the woods-road, clumb the bars,
An' arrove here, tromplin' over cows.
The mist hangs thick enough to cut,
But there's her light a-glimmerin' through
The mornin'-glories, twisted shut --
An' shorely there's her shadder too!

Ho! hit's good night,
My Beauty-Bright!
The moon cain't match your can'le-light --
Your can'le-light with you cain't shine,
Lau-ree! Lady-love! tiptoe-fine!

Oomh! how them roses soaks the air! --
Thess drenched with mist an' renched with dew!
They's a smell o' plums, too, 'round somewhere --
An' I kin smell ripe apples, too.
Mix all them sweet things into one, --
Yer roses, fruit, an' flower an' vine,
Yit I'll say, "No, I don't choose none,
Ef I kin git that gal of mine!"

Ho! hit's good night,
My Beauty-Bright!
Primp a while, an' blow out the light --
Putt me in your prayers, an' then
I'll be twic't as good-again!





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