Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SPOILED CHILD by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: CAUSE HERBERT GRAHAM'S A' ONLY CHILD
Last Line: "WUZ I THERE, MA? WUZ I THERE, MA?"
Subject(s): CHILDREN; FAMILY LIFE; CHILDHOOD; RELATIVES;
'CAUSE Herbert Graham's a' only child --
"Wuz I there, Ma?"
His parunts uz got him purt' nigh spiled --
"Wuz I there, Ma?"
Allus ever'where his Ma tells
Where @3she's@1 bin, at little Herbert yells,
"Wuz I there, Ma?"
An' when she telled us wunst when she
Wuz ist 'bout big as him an' me,
W'y, little Herbert he says, says-ee,
"Wuz I there, Ma?"
Foolishest young-un you ever saw. --
@3"Wuz I there, Ma? Wuz I there, Ma?"@1



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