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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


CUORED O' SKEERIN' by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: LISH, YOU RICKOLLECT THAT-AIR
Last Line: LITTLE TRACTION-ENGINE THERE!
Subject(s): ANIMALS; HORSES;

'LISH, you rickollect that-air
Dad-burn skittish old bay mare
Was no livin' with! -- 'at skeerd
'T ever'thing she seed er heerd! --
Th'owed 'Ves' Anders, and th'owed Pap,
First he straddled her -- @3k-slap!@1 --
And Izory -- well! -- th'owed @3her@1
Hain't no tellin' jest how fur! --
Broke her collar-bone -- and might
Jes 'a' kilt the gyrl outright!

Course I'd heerd 'em make their boast
She th'ow any feller, 'most,
Ever topped her! S' I, "I know
@3One@1 man 'at she'll never th'ow!"
So I rid her in to mill,
And, jest comin' round the hill,
Met a @3traction-engine!@1 -- Ort
Jest 'a' heerd that old mare snort,
And lay back her yeers, and see
Her a-tryin' to th'ow @3me!@1
Course I never said a word,
But thinks I, "My ladybird,
You'll git cuored, right here and now,
Of yer dy-does anyhow!"

So I stuck her -- tel she'd jest
Done her very level best;
Then I slides off -- strips the lines
Over her fool-head, and finds
Me a little saplin'-gad,
'Side the road: -- And there we had
Our own fun! -- jest wore her out!
Mounted her, and faced about,
And jest made her @3nose@1 that-air
Little traction-engine there!



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