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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


NEVER TALK BACK by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: NEVER TALK BACK! SICH THINGS IS
Last Line: WITH ONE GOOD JOLT OF SILENCE THAN A HALF A DOZEN KICKS!
Subject(s): INSOMNIA; QUARRELS; SLEEPLESSNESS; ARGUMENTS; DISAGREEMENTS;

NEVER talk back! sich things is repperhensible;
A feller only hurts hisse'f that jaws a man that's hot;
In a quarrel, ef you'll only keep your mouth shet and act sensible,
The man that does the talkin' 'll git worsted every shot!

Never talk back to a feller that's abusin' you --
Jes' let him carry on, and rip, and snort, and swear;
And when he finds his blamin' and defamin' 's jes' amusin' you,
You've got him clean kaflummixed, -- and you want to hold him there!

Never talk back, and wake up the whole community
And call a man a liar, over Law, er Politics. --
You can lift and land him furder and with gracefuller impunity
With one good jolt of silence than a half a dozen kicks!



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