Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE LISPER by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: ELSIE MINGUS LISPS, SHE DOES!
Last Line: "NER THUP THOOP SO AWFUL LOUD!"
Subject(s): CHILDREN; SPEECH DISORDERS; CHILDHOOD; STUTTERING; MUTENESS;

ELSIE MINGUS @3lisps@1, she does!
She lives wite acrosst from us
In Miz. Ayers'uz house 'at she
Rents part to the Mingusuz. --
Yes, an' Elsie plays wiv me.
Elsie lisps so, she can't say
Her own name, ist @3anyway!@1 --
She say "@3Elthy"@1 -- like they wuz
Feathers on her words, an' they
Ist stick on her tongue like fuzz.

@3My!@1 she's @3purty@1, though! -- An' when
She @3lisps@1, w'y, she's purty @3nen!@1
When she telled me, wunst, her doll
Wuz so "thweet," an' I p'ten'
@3I@1 lisp too, -- she laugh' -- 'at's all! --

@3She@1 don't never git mad none --
'Cause she know I'm ist in fun. --
Elsie she ain't one bit sp'iled. --
Of all childerns -- ever' one --
She's the @3ladylikest@1 child! --

My Ma @3say@1 she is! One time
Elsie start to say the rhyme
"Thing a thong o' thixpenth" -- @3Whee!@1
I ist @3yell!@1 An' Ma say I'm
Unpolite as I can be!

Wunst I went wiv Ma to call
On Elsie's Ma, an' eat an' all;
An' nen Elsie, when we've et,
An' we're playin' in the hall,
Elsie say: It's etikett

Fer young gentlemens, like me,
Eatin' when they's @3company,@1
Not to never ever crowd
Down their food, ner "thip their tea
Ner thup thoop so awful loud!"



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