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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


BILLY GOODIN' by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: LOOK SO NEAT AN' SWEET IN ALL YER
Last Line: A-EATIN'! AN' A-EATIN'! AN' A-EATIN'!
Subject(s): CHILDREN; FOOD & EATING; CHILDHOOD;

@3A big piece o' pie, and a big piece o' puddin' --
I laid it all by fer little Billy Goodin'!@1
-- BOY POET.

LOOK so neat an' sweet in all yer frills an' fancy pleatin'!
Better shet yer kitchen, though, afore you go to Meetin'! --
Better hide yer mince-meat an' stewed fruit an' plums!
Better hide yer pound-cake an' bresh away the crumbs!
Better hide yer cubbord-key when
Billy Goodin' comes,
A-eatin'! an' a-eatin'! an' a-eatin'!

Sight o' Sund'y-doin's done 'at ain't done in Meetin'!
Sun acrost yer garden-patch a-pourin' an' a-beatin';
Meller apples drappin' in the weeds an' roun' the groun' --
Clingstones an' sugar-pears a-ist a-plunkin' down! --
Better kind o' comb the grass 'fore
Billy comes aroun',
A-eatin'! an' a-eatin'! an' a-eatin'!

@3Billy Goodin'@1 ain't a-go' to go to any Meetin'!
@3We@1 'ull watch an' ketch an' give the little sneak a beatin'! --
Better hint @3we@1 want'o stay 'n' snoop yer grapes an' plums!
Better eat 'em all yerse'f an' suck yer stingy thumbs! --
Won't be nothin' anyhow when Billy Goodin' comes! --
A-eatin'! an' a-eatin'! an' a-eatin'!



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