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Comment 8 of 8, added on July 30th, 2010 at 12:41 AM.
Parody: When the Frost is on the Punkin
Having enjoyed Riley's poems throughout my 80 years, and with parents
who grew up on Riley poems in their late-19th century Indiana home, I
couldn't resist writing this parody when I found out what it will cost
to send my grandson to college a year from now. When I went to UCLA
over 60 years ago there was no tuition and my room and board was $36 a
month. The cost at top-flight private colleges for the coming year
ranges from $40-50,000. Almost unbelievable! That's why I felt
compelled to re-write the opening stanza of When the Frost is on the
Punkin.
LAMENT OF A KID GOING OFF TO COLLEGE
[With a little help from James Whitcomb Riley]
WHEN THE COST OF MY TUITION PUT MY FODDER INTO SHOCK
AND THE CHARGES FOR MY TEXTBOOKS MADE HIM WONDER WHAT TO HOCK
FROM THE CONTRACT FOR MY DORM ROOM AND THE FEES FOR BALL POINT PENS
TO THE 'LUMNI BOOSTERS DUNNING OF MYSELF AND FRESHMAN FRIENDS
O, IT'S THEN THE TIME A PARENT IS A-NEEDIN' PEACE AND REST
'MIDST THE RISIN' COST A-LIVIN' AND IT AIN'T ABOUT TO CREST
AS I LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR COLLEGE DAD IS TELLIN' ALL THE BLOCK:
"WHEN THE FROST IS ON THE PUNKIN THAT KID'S GRADES HAD BETTER ROCK."
Ralph E. Shaffer, Professor Emeritus, Cal Poly Pomona from United States
Comment 7 of 8, 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 8, 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 8, 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
Comment 4 of 8, added on October 20th, 2005 at 1:54 PM.
The story give me a big sigh of understanding.Riley captures the feeling of
exilerated anxiety when viewing the colors and the articulated moments of a
fall.Extrordinary crispness and colors so special in hue and intensity as
to make one sigh at the realization of both the intensity of there
brillance in the moment before death.
John Karamanski from United States
Comment 3 of 8, added on September 10th, 2005 at 6:58 PM.
I recalled this poem from the past but couldn't remember more than the
first line. As I was scrapbooking a page with pumpkins on it, I thought
this would be the perfect poem to go along with it. I love the rhythm and
vernacular of it.
June Backhaus from United States
Comment 2 of 8, added on August 26th, 2005 at 3:06 PM.
This poem reflects on far more than a farmer being finished with his
harvest for the year. It speaks to
a man wanting to feel that his life has been worth living
and that his life made a difference and that he is ready
to go on to his reward.
thanks for the site.
Michael Robertson from United States
Comment 1 of 8, added on October 18th, 2004 at 1:02 PM.
This is a wonderful analogy of the days of life and the ending of sed life.
Rileys country slang adds great character to his poetry..............wbpoet
wbpoet from United States
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Having enjoyed Riley's poems throughout my 80 years, and with parents
who grew up on Riley poems in their late-19th century Indiana home, I
couldn't resist writing this parody when I found out what it will cost
to send my grandson to college a year from now. When I went to UCLA
over 60 years ago there was no tuition and my room and board was $36 a
month. The cost at top-flight private colleges for the coming year
ranges from $40-50,000. Almost unbelievable! That's why I felt
compelled to re-write the opening stanza of When the Frost is on the
Punkin.
LAMENT OF A KID GOING OFF TO COLLEGE
[With a little help from James Whitcomb Riley]
WHEN THE COST OF MY TUITION PUT MY FODDER INTO SHOCK
AND THE CHARGES FOR MY TEXTBOOKS MADE HIM WONDER WHAT TO HOCK
FROM THE CONTRACT FOR MY DORM ROOM AND THE FEES FOR BALL POINT PENS
TO THE 'LUMNI BOOSTERS DUNNING OF MYSELF AND FRESHMAN FRIENDS
O, IT'S THEN THE TIME A PARENT IS A-NEEDIN' PEACE AND REST
'MIDST THE RISIN' COST A-LIVIN' AND IT AIN'T ABOUT TO CREST
AS I LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR COLLEGE DAD IS TELLIN' ALL THE BLOCK:
"WHEN THE FROST IS ON THE PUNKIN THAT KID'S GRADES HAD BETTER ROCK."
Ralph E. Shaffer, Professor Emeritus, Cal Poly Pomona from United States