Living

Want to Be Whur Mother Is

by James Whitcomb Riley 1849–1916

From Pipes O' Pan at Zekesbury (1895)

Living

"Want to be whur mother is! Want to be whur mother is!"
Jeemses Rivers! won't some one ever shet that howl o' his?
That-air yellin' drives me wild!
Cain't none of ye stop the child?
Want jer Daddy? "Naw." Gee whizz!
"Want to be whur mother is!"

"Want to be whur mother is! Want to be whur mother is!"
Coax him, Sairy! Mary, sing somepin far him! Lift him, Liz--
Bang the clock-bell with the key--
Er the meat-ax! Gee-mun-nee!
Listen to them lungs o' his!
"Want to be whur mother is!"

"Want to be whur mother is! Want to be whur mother is!"
Preacher guess'll pound all night on that old pulpit o' his;
'Pears to me some wimmin jest
Shows religious interest
Mostly 'fore their fambly's riz!
"Want to be whur mother is!"

* * * * *

"Want to be whur mother is! Want to be whur mother is!"
Nights like these and whipperwills allus brings that voice of his!
Sairy; Mary; 'Lizabeth;
Don't set there and ketch yer death
In the dew--er rheumatiz--
Want to be whur mother is?

MLA

Riley, James Whitcomb. “Want to Be Whur Mother Is.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/160/.

Chicago

Riley, James Whitcomb. “Want to Be Whur Mother Is.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/riley/160/.

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