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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


MOONSHINER'S SERENADE by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE NIGHT'S BLIND-BLACK, AN' I 'LOW
Last Line: I'LL BE TWIC'T AS GOOD-AGAIN!
Subject(s): FLOWERS; MOON; NIGHT; ROSES; SINGING & SINGERS; BEDTIME;

THE night's blind-black, an' I 'low the stars's
All skeered at that-air dog's bowwows!
I sensed the woods-road, clumb the bars,
An' arrove here, tromplin' over cows.
The mist hangs thick enough to cut,
But there's her light a-glimmerin' through
The mornin'-glories, twisted shut --
An' shorely there's her shadder too!

@3Ho! hit's good night,
My Beauty-Bright!
The moon cain't match your can'le-light --
Your can'le-light with you cain't shine,
Lau-ree! Lady-love! tiptoe-fine!@1

Oomh! how them roses soaks the air! --
Thess drenched with mist an' renched with dew!
They's a smell o' plums, too, 'round somewhere --
An' I kin smell ripe apples, too.
Mix all them sweet things into one, --
Yer roses, fruit, an' flower an' vine,
Yit I'll say, "No, I don't choose none,
Ef I kin git that gal of mine!"

@3Ho! hit's good night,
My Beauty-Bright!
Primp a while, an' blow out the light --
Putt me in your prayers, an' then
I'll be twic't as good-again!@1



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