Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


A LITTLE LAME BOY'S VIEWS by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: ON 'SCURSION-DAYS - AN' SHOWS - AN'
Last Line: THEY AIN'T NO BAD FOLKS ANYWHERES!
Subject(s): BOYS; CARNIVALS; COUNTRY LIFE; PHYSICAL DISABILITIES; HANDICAPPED; HANDICAPS; PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED; CRIPPLES;

ON 'Scursion-days -- an' Shows -- an' Fairs --
They ain't no bad folks anywheres! --
On street-cars -- same as @3you@1 --
Seems like @3some@1body allus sees
I'm lame, an' takes me on their knees,
An' holds my crutches, too --
An' asts me what's my name, an' pays
My fare theirse'f -- On all Big Days!

The mob all @3scrowdges@1 you an' makes
Enough o' bluffs, fer goodness-sakes!
But none of 'em @3ain't@1 mad --
They're only @3lettin' on. -- I@1 know; --
An' I can tell you @3why@1 it's so:
They're all of 'em too @3glad@1 --
They're @3ever' one,@1 jes' glad as @3me@1
To be there, er they @3wouldn't@1 be!

The man that sells the tickets snoops
My "one-er" in, but sort o' stoops
An' grins out at me -- then
Looks mean an' business-like an' sucks
His big mustache at me an' chucks
Too much change out again. --
He's a @3smooth citizen,@1 an' yit
He don't fool @3me@1 one little bit!

An' then, @3inside@1 -- fer all the jam --
Folks, seems-like, all knows who I am,
An' tips me nods an' winks;
An' even country-folks has made
Me he'p eat pie an' marmalade,
With bottled milk fer "drinks"! --
Folks @3all's@1 so good to me that I --
Sometimes -- I nearly purt' near' @3cry@1.

An' all the @3kids,@1 high-toned er pore,
Seems better than they wuz before,
An' wants to kind o' "stand
In" with a feller -- see him through
The @3free@1 lay-out an' @3sideshows,@1 too,
An' do the bloomin' "grand"!
On 'Scursion-days -- an' Shows an' Fairs --
They ain't no bad folks anywheres!



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