Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE LOVELY HUSBAND by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: OH A LOVELY HUSBAND HE WAS KNOWN, HE LOVED HIS WIFE AND
Last Line: IN THIS LOVE-LY MAN!
Subject(s): LOVE; MARRIAGE; MUSIC & MUSICIANS; WEDDINGS; HUSBANDS; WIVES;

Oh a love - ly hus-band he was known, He loved his wife and her a-lone; She
reaped the harvest he had sown; She ate the meat; he picked the bone. With
mixed admirers ev-'ry size, She smiled on each with out disguise; This love-ly
hus-band closed his eyes Lest he might take her by sur-prise. Trot! Run! Was -
n't he a han - dy hub - by? What Fun She could plot and plan! Not One Oth - er
such a dan - dy hub - by As this love - ly man!

II

He answered at her least command:
He fanned her, if she would be fanned;
He vanished when she willed it. -- And
He always coughed behind his hand.
She held him in such high esteem
She let him dope her face with "Cream," --
He'd chink the wrinkles seam-by-seam,
And call her "lovely as a dream!"

CHORUS

@3Hot
Bun!
Wasn't he a lovey-dovey?
What
Fun
She could plot and plan!
Not
One
Other such a dovey-lovey
As this love-ly man!@1

III

Her lightest wishes he foreknew
And fell up-stairs to cater to:
He never failed to back from view,
Nor mispronounced @3Don't ( ) you@1 "Doan chu."
He only sought to fill such space
As her friends left; -- he knew his place: --
He praised the form she could not lace. --
He praised her face before her face!

CHORUS

@3Shot
Gun!
Wasn't he a lovely fellow?
What
Fun
She could plot and plan!
Not
One
Lonesome little streak of yellow
In this love-ly man!@1



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