Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SCOTTY by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: SCOTTY'S DEAD.-- / OF COURSE HE IS!
Last Line: LUCKIEST -- AND NOW HE'S DEAD!
Subject(s): DEATH; FORTUNE; DEAD, THE;

SCOTTY'S dead. -- Of course he is!
Jes' that same old luck of his! --
Ever sence we went cahoots
He's be'n first, you bet yer boots!
When our schoolin' first begun,
Got two whippin's to my one:
Stold and smoked the first cigar:
Stood up first before the bar,
Takin' whisky-straight -- and me
Wastin' time on "blackberry"!
Beat me in the Army, too,
And clean on the whole way through! --
In more scrapes around the camp,
And more troubles, on the tramp:
Fought and fell there by my side
With more bullets in his hide,
And more glory in the cause, --
That's the kind o' man @3he@1 was!
Luck liked Scotty more'n me. --
@3I@1 got married: Scotty, he
Never even would @3apply@1
Fer the pension-money I
Had to beg of "Uncle Sam" --
That's the kind o' cuss @3I@1 am! --
Scotty allus first and best --
Me the last and ornriest!
Yit fer all that's said and done --
All the battles fought and won --
We hain't prospered, him ner me --
Both as pore as pore could be, --
Though we've allus, up tel now,
Stuck together anyhow --
Scotty allus, as I've said,
Luckiest -- And now he's @3dead!@1



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