How It Happened Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDBA EEFFBBBB GHBBGGBB IIBBJJCG| I got to thinkin' of her both her parents dead and gone | A |
| And all her sisters married off and none but her and John | B |
| A livin' all alone there in that lonesome sort o' way | C |
| And him a blame old bachelor confirmder ev'ry day | C |
| I'd knowed 'em all from childern and their daddy from the time | D |
| He settled in the neighborhood and had n't ary a dime | D |
| Er dollar when he married far to start housekeepin' on | B |
| So I got to thinkin' of her both her parents dead and gone | A |
| - | |
| I got to thinkin' of her and a wundern what she done | E |
| That all her sisters kep' a gittin' married one by one | E |
| And her without no chances and the best girl of the pack | F |
| An old maid with her hands you might say tied behind her back | F |
| And Mother too afore she died she ust to jes' take on | B |
| When none of 'em was left you know but Evaline and John | B |
| And jes' declare to goodness 'at the young men must be bline | B |
| To not see what a wife they 'd git if they got Evaline | B |
| - | |
| I got to thinkin' of her in my great affliction she | G |
| Was sich a comfert to us and so kind and neighberly | H |
| She 'd come and leave her housework far to be'p out little Jane | B |
| And talk of her own mother 'at she 'd never see again | B |
| Maybe sometimes cry together though far the most part she | G |
| Would have the child so riconciled and happy like 'at we | G |
| Felt lonesomer 'n ever when she 'd put her bonnet on | B |
| And say she 'd railly haf to be a gittin' back to John | B |
| - | |
| I got to thinkin' of her as I say and more and more | I |
| I'd think of her dependence and the burdens 'at she bore | I |
| Her parents both a bein' dead and all her sisters gone | B |
| And married off and her a livin' there alone with John | B |
| You might say jes' a toilin' and a slavin' out her life | J |
| Far a man 'at hadn't pride enough to git hisse'f a wife | J |
| 'Less some one married Evaline and packed her off some day | C |
| So I got to thinkin' of her and it happened thataway | G |
James Whitcomb Riley
(1)
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