Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LITTLE DICK AND THE CLOCK by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: WHEN DICKY WAS SICK
Last Line: "TY -- SLIPPATY -- SLEEPATY!"
Subject(s): CLOCKS; NIGHT; SICKNESS; TIME; BEDTIME; ILLNESS;

WHEN Dicky was sick
In the night, and the clock,
As he listened, said "Tick-
Atty -- tick-atty -- tock!"
He said that @3it@1 said,
Every time it said "Tick,"
It said "Sick," instead,
And he @3heard@1 it say "Sick!"
And when it said "Tick-
Atty -- tick-atty -- tock,"
He said it said "Sick-
Atty -- sick-atty -- sock!"
And he tried to @3see@1 then,
But the light was too dim,
Yet he @3heard@1 it again --
And 'twas @3talking@1 to him!
And then it said "Sick-
Atty -- sick-atty -- sick!
You poor little Dick-
Atty -- Dick-atty -- Dick! --
Have you got the hick-
Atties? Hi! send for Doc
To hurry up quick-
Atty -- quick-atty -- quock,
And heat a hot brick-
Atty -- brick-atty -- brock,
And rickle-ty wrap it
And clickle-ty clap it
Against his cold feet-
Al-ty -- weep-aty -- eepaty --
@3There@1 he goes, slapit-
Ty -- slippaty -- sleepaty!"



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