Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WRITIN' BACK TO THE HOMEFOLKS by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY

Poet Analysis

First Line: MY DEAR OLD FRIENDS - IT JES' BEATS
Last Line: AND MADALINE AND MOTHER.
Subject(s): APRIL; FAMILY LIFE; LETTERS; LOVE; RELATIVES;
MY dear old friends -- It jes' beats all,
The way you write a letter
So's ever' @3last@1 line beats the @3first,@1
And ever' @3next@1-un's better! --
W'y, ever' fool-thing you putt down
You make so inte@3rest@1in',
A feller, readin' of 'em all,
Can't tell which is the @3best@1-un.

It's all so comfortin' and good,
'Pears-like I almost @3hear@1 ye
And git more sociabler, you know,
And hitch my cheer up near ye
And jes' smile on ye like the sun
Acrosst the whole per-rairies
In Aprile when the thaw's begun
And country couples marries.

It's all so good-old-fashioned like
To @3talk@1 jes' like we're @3thinkin',@1
Without no hidin' back o' fans
And giggle-un and winkin',
Ner sizin' how each other's dressed --
Like some is allus doin', --
"@3Is@1 Marthy Ellen's basque be'n @3turned@1
Er shore-enough a new-un!" --

Er "ef Steve's city-friend hain't jes'
'A @3lee@1tle kind o' sort o''" --
Er "wears them-air blame' eye-glasses
Jes' 'cause he hadn't ort to?" --
And so straight on, @3dad-libitum,@1
Tel all of us feels, @3some@1way,
Jes' like our "comp'ny" wuz the best
When we git up to come 'way!

That's why I like @3old@1 friends like @3you,@1 --
Jes' 'cause you're so @3abidin'@1. --
Ef I wuz built to live @3"fer keeps,"@1
My principul residin'
Would be amongst the folks 'at kep'
Me allus @3thinkin'@1 of 'em,
And sort o' eechin' all the time
To tell 'em how I love 'em. --

Sich folks, you know, I jes' love so
I wouldn't live without 'em,
Er couldn't even drap asleep
But what I @3dreamp'@1 about 'em, --
And ef we minded God, I guess
We'd @3all@1 love one another
Jes' like one famb'ly, -- me and Pap
And Madaline and Mother.



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