James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)
Wet-weather Talk
1It hain't no use to grumble and complane;
2 It's jest as cheap and easy to rejoice. --
3When God sorts out the weather and sends rain,
5Men ginerly, to all intents --
6 Although they're apt to grumble some --
7Puts most theyr trust in Providence,
8 And takes things as they come --
9 That is, the commonality
10 Of men that's lived as long as me
11 Has watched the world enugh to learn
12 They're not the boss of this concern.
13With some, of course, it's different --
14 I've saw young men that knowed it all,
15And didn't like the way things went
16 On this terrestchul ball; --
17 But all the same, the rain, some way,
18 Rained jest as hard on picnic day;
19 Er, when they railly wanted it,
20 It mayby wouldn't rain a bit!
21In this existunce, dry and wet
22 Will overtake the best of men --
23Some little skift o' clouds'll shet
24 The sun off now and then. --
25 And mayby, whilse you're wundern who
26 You've fool-like lent your umbrell' to,
27 And want it -- out'll pop the sun,
28 And you'll be glad you hain't got none!
29It aggervates the farmers, too --
30 They's too much wet, er too much sun,
31Er work, er waitin' round to do
32 Before the plowin' 's done:
33 And mayby, like as not, the wheat,
34 Jest as it's lookin' hard to beat,
35 Will ketch the storm -- and jest about
36 The time the corn's a-jintin' out.
37These-here cy-clones a-foolin' round --
38 And back'ard crops! -- and wind and rain! --
39And yit the corn that's wallerd down
40 May elbow up again! --
41 They hain't no sense, as I can see,
42 Fer mortuls, sech as us, to be
43 A-faultin' Natchur's wise intents,
44 And lockin' horns with Providence!
45It hain't no use to grumble and complane;
46 It's jest as cheap and easy to rejoice. --
47When God sorts out the weather and sends rain,
48 W'y, rain's my choice.
Notes
1] hain't: ain't.
4] W'y: Why.
5] ginerly: generally.
23] skift: skiff, small amount.
25] wundern: wondering.
36] a-jintin': "jaunting," coming out.
39] wallerd: thrashed.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley, Vol. IV (Bobbs-Merrill, 1916): 948-49. PS 2700 F16 Robarts Library
RPO poem editor: Ian Lancashire
RP edition: 2003
Recent editing: 1:2003/5/25
Form: octaves with quatrain refrain
Rhyme: abab ababccdd
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