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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


IN THE AFTERNOON by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: YOU IN THE HAMMOCK; AND I, NEAR
Last Line: KISS ME AGAIN, MY DEAR!
Subject(s): AFTERNOON; BOOKS; HAMMOCKS; KISSES; READING;

YOU in the hammock; and I, near by,
Was trying to read, and to swing you, too;
And the green of the sward was so kind to the eye,
And the shade of the maples so cool and blue,
That often I looked from the book to you
To say as much, with a sigh.

You in the hammock. The book we'd brought
From the parlor -- to read in the open air, --
Something of love and of Launcelot
And Guinevere, I believe, was there --
But the afternoon, it was far more fair
Than the poem was, I thought.

You in the hammock; and on and on
I droned and droned through the rhythmic stuff --
But, with always a half of my vision gone
Over the top of the page -- enough
To caressingly gaze at you, swathed in the fluff
Of your hair and your odorous "lawn."

You in the hammock -- and that was a year --
Fully a year ago, I guess --
And what do we care for their Guinevere
And her Launcelot and their lordliness! --
You in the hammock still, and -- Yes --
Kiss me again, my dear!



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