Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


SYMPTOMS by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: I'M NOT A-WORKIN' NOW!
Last Line: I'M NOT A-WORKIN' NOW!
Subject(s): FARM LIFE; IDLENESS; LABOR & LABORERS; AGRICULTURE; FARMERS; LAZINESS; SLOTH; INDOLENCE; WORK; WORKERS;

I'M not a-workin' now! --
I'm jes' a-layin' round
A-lettin' @3other@1 people plow. --
@3I'm@1 cumberin' the ground! . . .
I jes' don't @3keer!@1 -- I've done my sheer
O' sweatin'! -- Anyhow,
In this dad-blasted weather here,
I'm not a-workin' @3now!@1

The corn and wheat and all
Is doin' well enough! --
They' got clean on from now tel Fall
To show what kind o' stuff
'At's in their @3own@1 dad-burn backbone;
So, while the Scriptur's 'low
Man ort to reap as he have sown --
I'm not a-workin' now!

The grass en-nunder these-
Here ellums 'long "Old Blue,"
And shadders o' the sugar-trees,
Beats farmin' quite a few!
As feller says, -- I ruther guess
I'll make my comp'ny bow
And @3snooze@1 a few hours -- more er less. --
I'm not a-workin' now!



Home: PoetryExplorer.net