When the Frost is on the Punkin - A poem by James Whitcomb Riley

James Whitcomb Riley - When the Frost is on the Punkin

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
 
They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here--
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock--
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
 
The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries--kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below--the clover over-head!--
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!
 
Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin' 's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...
I don't know how to tell it--but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me--
I'd want to 'commodate 'em--all the whole-indurin' flock--
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

Added: on October 29th, 2005 at 7:24 AM | Viewed: 7654 times | Comments and analysis of When the Frost is on the Punkin by James Whitcomb Riley Comments (7)

When the Frost is on the Punkin - Comments and Information
Poet: James Whitcomb Riley (James Whitcomb Riley Art) Poem: When the Frost is on the Punkin Volume: Complete Works Year: Published/Written in 1916 Poem of the Day: Oct 30 2009 Comment 7 of 7, added on February 26th, 2006 at 12:56 AM. This poem is my first experience of poetry. Raised in Indiana, we had a class on Indiana History at the school. This man has had a profound effect on my life. His music with words have stayed with me and helped me to have an open and questioning insight into the world as I experience it. His apparent simplicity masks a rich and powerful understanding of the nature of life. Comment 6 of 7, added on February 15th, 2006 at 11:20 PM. this my favorite poem of james because its silly and funny but it also has a meaning to it some of us may not realize it but this poem may have meaning no matter what kind of personality me or you or others may have so when the frost is on the punkin remember james whitcomb riley for him and not what people write or do or say to find the truth find someone or colide facts from other writers. trisha from United States Comment 5 of 7, added on October 29th, 2005 at 7:24 AM. My mother had no more than a high school education because my grandfather was a coal miner, but she exposed my sisters, brother and I to an amazing variety of life experiences including travel, unusual foods, literature, especially poetry. J.W.R and E.A. Poe became my favorites. I was thrilled one day while browsing in a Goodwill store to come across a signed, used copy of a book that my mother had written. I can still hear her reciting from memory "When the frost" and "Once upon a midnight dreary, every word. William John Hawthorn from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, When the Frost is on the Punkin, has received 7 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by James Whitcomb Riley with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: James Whitcomb Riley Poem: When the Frost is on the Punkin Volume: Complete Works Year: Published/Written in 1916 Last read: Nov 7 2009, 1:43PM Poem of the Day: Oct 30 2009 Viewed 7654 times. Added on October 29th, 2005 at 7:24 AM.

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