Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THOUGHTS ON A PORE JOKE by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: I LIKE FUN - AND I LIKE JOKES
Last Line: BUT DON'T SAY IT -- ER YOU'RE GONE!

I LIKE fun -- and I like jokes
'Bout as well as most o' folks! --
Like my joke, and like my fun; --
But a joke, I'll state right here,
'S got some p'int -- er I don't keer
Fer no joke that hain't got none. --
I hain't got no use, I'll say,
Fer a @3pore@1 joke, anyway!

F'r instunce, now, when @3some@1 folks gits
To relyin' on theyr wits,
Ten to one they git too smart
And @3spile@1 it all, right at the start!
Feller wants to jest go slow
And do his @3thinkin'@1 first, you know
'F I can't think up somepin' good,
I set still and chaw my cood!
'F you @3think@1 nothin' -- jest keep on,
But don't @3say@1 it -- er you're gone!



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