Good-By Er Howdy-Do by James Whitcomb Riley
The poem is a nostalgic and sentimental tribute to the passing of time and the fleeting nature of youth. It expresses a sense of melancholy and longing for a bygone era, with the speaker reflecting on the transience of life and the inevitability of change. The tone is wistful and introspective, with a focus on the emotional resonance of memory and experience.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1889 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Reflective · 242 words
First lines
Say good-by er howdy-do -- / What's the odds betwixt the two? / Comin' -- goin', ev'ry day -- / Best friends first to go away -- / Grasp of hands you'd ruther hold / Than their weight in solid gold / Slips their grip while greetin' you. -- / Say good-by er howdy-do!
Howdy-do, and then, good-by -- / Mixes jes' like laugh and cry; / Deaths and births, and worst and best, / Tangled their contrariest; / Ev'ry jinglin' weddin'-bell / Skeerin' up some funer'l knell. -- / Here's my song, and there's your sigh. -- / Howdy-do, and then, good-by!
What this Textopian page supports
Good-By Er Howdy-Do is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1889 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1889 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Reflective, Sentimental
- Length: 242 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Philosophical — The themes explore existential concepts such as life, death, and the cyclical nature of human experiences.
- Reflective — The content reflects on the inevitability of change and the transient nature of relationships.
- Sentimental — The work evokes emotions related to parting and reunion, common in sentimental literature.
Tags
Poetry Collection · American Literature · 19th Century Poetry · Humorous Verse · Satire · Social Commentary · Regionalism · Midwestern Culture · Folkloric Elements · Whimsy · Wordplay · Language Play