Public Domain Poetry - James Whitcomb Riley

Custom Search

Main Menu

Home

Authors By Surname

Authors By First Name

Poetry By Title

Poetry By First Lines

Top Authors

Top Poems

Contact Us

Store

Sponsored Links
Read, Rate, Comment on or Submit your poetry

James Whitcomb Riley

October 7, 1849 – July 22, 1916

Poetry Listing

Read More About James Whitcomb Riley below poetry list

Poem Title	First Lines	Period	# Lines	# Reads
1: A Backward Look	As I sat smoking, alone, yesterday,		54	386
2: A Ballad With A Serious Conclusion	Crowd about me, little children		92	367
3: A Bear Family	Wunst, 'way West in Illinoise,		80	123
4: A Brave Refrain	When snow is here, and the trees look weird,		28	107
5: A Bride	O I am weary!" she sighed, as her billowy		20	99
6: A Canary At the Farm	Folks has be'n to town, and Sahry		24	92
7: A Child-World	The Child-World - long and long since lost to view		21	121
8: A Christmas Memory	Pa he bringed me here to stay		56	107
9: A Country Pathway.	I come upon it suddenly, alone		104	102
10: A Cup Of Tea.	I have sipped, with drooping lashes,		32	84
11: A Defective Santa Claus	Allus when our Pa he's away		315	120
12: A Delicious Interruption	All were quite gracious in their plaudits of		28	103
13: A Discouraging Model	Just the airiest, fairiest slip of a thing,		20	76
14: A Discouraging Model.	Just the airiest, fairiest slip of a thing,		20	91
15: A Ditty Of No Tone.	Would that my lips might pour out in thy praise		30	110
16: A Diverted Tragedy	Gracie wuz allus a careless tot;		22	93
17: A Dos't O' Blues.	I' got no patience with blues at all!		40	97
18: A Dream	I dreamed I was a spider;		48	101
19: A Dream Of Autumn.	Mellow hazes, lowly trailing		48	88
20: A Dream Of Long Ago	Lying listless in the mosses		64	87
21: A Dubious "Old Kriss"	Us-folks is purty pore - but Ma		60	100
22: A Fantasy	A fantasy that came to me		97	98
23: A Feel In The Chris'mas-Air	They's a kind o' feel in the air, to me.		32	85
24: A Fruit Piece	The afternoon of summer folds		26	97
25: A Full Harvest.	Seems like a feller'd ort 'o jes' to-day		14	82
26: A Glimpse of Pan	I caught but a glimpse of him. Summer was here.		22	75
27: A Glimpse Of Pan.	I caught but a glimpse of him. Summer was here,		22	84
28: A Good Man	A good man never dies		16	96
29: A Gustatory Achievement	Last Thanksgivin'-dinner we		12	80
30: A Hobo Voluntary	Oh, the hobo's life is a roving life;		80	105
31: A Home-Made Fairy Tale	Bud, come here to your uncle a spell,		32	91
32: A Leave-Taking.	She will not smile;		24	91
33: A Letter To A Friend	The past is like a story		24	88
34: A Life Lesson	There! Little girl; don't cry!		21	84
35: A Liz Town Humorist	Settin' round the stove, last night,		35	85
36: A Lounger.	He leant against a lamp-post, lost		16	82
37: A Man Of Many Parts	It was a man of many parts,		24	85
38: A Masque Of The Seasons	Summer or Winter or Spring or Fall,		38	77
39: A Monument For The Soldiers.	A monument for the Soldiers!		40	88
40: A Mother-Song	Mother, O mother! forever I cry for you,		24	80
41: A New Year's Plaint	The bells that lift their yawning throats		48	82
42: A New Year's Time at Willards's	There's old man Willards; an' his wife;		182	80
43: A Noted Traveler	Even in such a scene of senseless play		44	86
44: A Parent Reprimanded	Sometimes I think 'at Parents does		11	85
45: A Poet's Wooing	What may I do to make you glad,		32	77
46: A Prospective Visit	While any day was notable and dear		35	76
47: A Rough Sketch	I caught, for a second, across the crowd		12	81
48: A Scrawl	I want to sing something - but this is all		12	82
49: A Session With Uncle Sidney - I - One Of His Animal Stories	Now, Tudens, you sit on this knee - and 'scuse	1869	119	77
50: A Session With Uncle Sidney - II - Uncle Brightens Up	Uncle he says 'at 'way down in the sea		18	92
51: A Session With Uncle Sidney - III - Sings A "Winky-Tooden" Song	O here's a little rhyme for the Spring- or Summer-time		18	84
52: A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 1 The Diners In The Kitchen	Our dog Fred		18	79
53: A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 2 The Imperious Angler	Miss Medairy Dory-Ann		6	78
54: A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 3 The Gathering Of The Clans	Where's the crowd that dares to go		24	79
55: A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 4 "It"	A wee little worm in a hickory-nut		4	83
56: A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 5 The Daring Prince	A daring prince, of the realm Rangg Dhune,		6	85
57: A Song	There is ever a song somewhere, my dear;		26	82
58: A Song By Uncle Sidney	O were I not a clod, intent		8	63
59: A Song Of Long Ago.	A song of Long Ago:		30	85
60: A Song Of Singing	Sing! gangling lad, along the brink		16	82
61: A Southern Singer.	Herein are blown from out the South		36	82
62: A Spring Song And A Later	She sang a song of May for me,		16	112
63: A Sudden Shower	Barefooted boys scud up the street		28	88
64: A Summer Afternoon	A languid atmosphere, a lazy breeze,		28	84
65: A Summer Sunrise	The master-hand whose pencils trace		40	136
66: A Tale Of The Airly Days	Oh! tell me a tale of the airly days		40	80
67: A Test Of Love	He wooed her first in an atmosphere		24	84
68: A Variation	I am tired of this!		42	79
69: A Very Youthful Affair	I'm bin a-visitun 'bout a week		4	85
70: A Voice From the Farm	It is my dream to have you here with me,		14	72
71: A Water-Color.	Low hidden in among the forest trees		12	93
72: A Wild Irishman	Not very many years ago the writer was for some months stationed at		446	75
73: A Worn-Out Pencil.	Welladay!		35	88
74: A Wraith Of Summertime.	In its color, shade and shine,		18	87
75: A Wrangdillion	Dexery-tethery! down in the dike,		24	89
76: A' Old Played-Out Song	It's the curiousest thing in creation,		48	82
77: Abe Martin	Abe Martin! - dad-burn his old picture!		32	76
78: Almon Keefer	Ah, Almon Keefer! what a boy you were,		113	80
79: America's Thanksgiving	Father all bountiful, in mercy bear		40	71
80: An Autumnal Extravaganza	With a sweeter voice than birds		50	80
81: An Empty Nest	I find an old deserted nest,		20	78
82: An Impetuous Resolve	When little Dickie Swope's a man,		16	72
83: An Impromptu Fairy-Tale	When I wuz ist a little bit		36	82
84: An Old Friend	Hey, Old Midsummer! are you here again,		21	89
85: An Old Settler's Story	William Williams his name was		1044	70
86: An Old Sweetheart of Mine	The ordered intermingling		152	116
87: An Old Sweetheart Of Mine	As one who cons at evening o'er an album all alone,		44	84
88: An Old Sweetheart Of Mine	An old sweetheart of mine! - Is this her presence here with me,		72	79
89: An Old Year's Address	I have twankled the strings of the twinkering rain;		42	75
90: An Out-Worn Sappho	How tired I am! I sink down all alone		99	84
91: Anselmo	Years did I vainly seek the good Lord's grace,		18	85
92: Art and Love	He faced his canvas (as a seer whose ken		14	85
93: Art And Poetry	Wess he says, and sort o' grins,		24	80
94: As Created	There's a space for good to bloom in		8	78
95: As My Uncle Used To Say.	I've thought a power on men and things,		24	78
96: At Aunty's House	One time, when we'z at Aunty's house		30	73
97: At Broad Ripple.	Ah, Luxury! Beyond the heat		32	86
98: At Last	A dark, tempestuous night; the stars shut in		36	80
99: At Noey's House	At Noey's house - when they arrived with him		81	87
100: At Noon - And Midnight.	Far in the night, and yet no rest for him! The pillow next his own		8	93
101: At Sea	O we go down to sea in ships		16	84
102: At Utter Loaf.	An afternoon as ripe with heat		33	77
103: At Zekesbury.	The little town, as I recall it,		157	80
104: August.	A day of torpor in the sullen heat		40	94
105: Autumn.	As a harvester, at dusk,		100	86
106: Away	I cannot say, and I will not say		24	124
107: Babyhood.	Heigh-ho! Babyhood! Tell me where you linger:		24	82
108: Back From a Two-years' Sentence	Back from a two-years' sentence!		24	79
109: Back From Town	Old friends allus is the best,		32	82
110: Be Our Fortunes As They May	Be our fortunes as they may,		20	79
111: Beautiful Hands.	O your hands - they are strangely fair!		40	93
112: Becalmed	Would that the winds might only blow		20	77
113: Because	Why did we meet long years of yore?		18	97
114: Bedouin.	O love is like an untamed steed! -		18	81
115: Being His Mother.	Being his mother - when he goes away		14	70
116: Bewildering Emotions	The merriment that followed was subdued		31	73
117: Billy And His Drum	Ho! it's come, kids, come!		18	103
118: Billy's Alphabetical Animal Show.	A was an elegant Ape		135	78
119: Blind.	You think it is a sorry thing		214	69
120: Blooms Of May	But yesterday!...		18	72
121: Bryant	The harp has fallen from the master's hand;		14	72
122: Bud's Fairy-Tale	Some peoples thinks they ain't no Fairies now		230	113
123: By Any Other Name.	First the teacher called the roll,		32	66
124: By Her White Bed.	By her white bed I muse a little space:		14	63
125: Chairley Burke	It's Chairley Burke's in town, b'ys! He's down til "Jamesy's Place,"		20	75
126: Christmas Greeting	A word of Godspeed and good cheer		6	79
127: Climatic Sorcery	When frost's all on our winder, an' the snow's		8	70
128: Company Manners	When Bess gave her Dollies a Tea, said she,		4	69
129: Cousin Rufus' Story	My little story, Cousin Rufus said,		163	74
130: Craqueodoom	The Crankadox leaned o'er the edge of the moon		24	70
131: Curly Locks	Curly Locks! Curly Locks! wilt thou be mine?		24	78
132: Dan O'Sullivan	Dan O'Sullivan: It's your		24	94
133: Dan Paine.	Old friend of mine, whose chiming name		40	86
134: Das Krist Kindel	I had fed the fire and stirred it, till the sparkles in delight		60	79
135: Das Krist Kindel	I had fed the fire and stirred it, till the sparkles in delight		60	68
136: Dawn, Noon And Dewfall.	Dawn, noon and dewfall! Bluebird and robin		12	86
137: Dead In Sight Of Fame	Dead! Dead! Dead!		24	75
138: Dead Leaves	As though a gipsy maiden with dim look,		42	90
139: Dead Selves	How many of my selves are dead?		63	79
140: Dear Hands.	The touches of her hands are like the fall		19	62
141: Dearth	I hold your trembling hand to-night - and yet		14	119
142: Dedication To Hewitt Hanson Howland With Halest Christmas Greetings And Fraternal	Little Boy! Halloo! - halloo!		4	67
143: Dedication: Riley Child-Rhymes	He owns the bird-songs of the hills		10	69
144: Doc Sifers.	Of all the doctors I could cite you to in this-'ere town		60	77
145: Donn Piatt Of Mac-O-Chee.	Donn Piatt - of Mac-o-chee,		56	68
146: Dot Leedle Boy.	Ot's a leedle Christmas story		121	68
147: Down Around The River	Noon-time an' June-time, down around the river!		32	70
148: Down On Wriggle Crick	Mostly folks is law-abidin'		73	67
149: Down To The Capital	I' be'n down to the Capital at Washington, D. C.,		64	70
150: Dream	Because her eyes were far too deep		32	102
151: Dream-March	Wasn't it a funny dream! - perfectly bewild'rin'!		36	103
152: Dreamer, Say	Dreamer, say, will you dream for me		24	89
153: Dusk	The frightened herds of clouds across the sky		14	73
154: Elizabeth.	Elizabeth! Elizabeth!		30	68
155: Elmer Brown	Awf'lest boy in this-here town		30	74
156: Envoy	Many pleasures of youth have been buoyantly sung		40	73
157: Envoy.	Just as of old! The world rolls on and on;		12	61
158: Evensong	Lay away the story,		16	80
159: Extremes	A little boy once played so loud		8	71
160: Fame	Once, in a dream, I saw a man,		82	64
161: Fame	Once, in a dream, I saw a man		82	75
162: Farmer Whipple. - Bachelor.	It's a mystery to see me - a man o' fifty-four,		112	65
163: Father William	You are old, Father William, and though one would think		32	84
164: Find The Favorite	Our three cats is Maltese cats,		56	62
165: Floretty's Musical Contribution	All seemed delighted, though the elders more,		124	70
166: Fool-Youngens	Me an' Bert an' Minnie-Belle		30	68
167: For You	For you, I could forget the gay		24	79
168: Friday Afternoon	Of the wealth of facts and fancies		130	78
169: Friend Of A Wayward Hour	Friend of a wayward hour, you came		15	73
170: From the Headboard of a Grave in Paraguay	A troth, and a grief, and a blessing,		8	89
171: George Mullen's Confession	For the sake of guilty conscience, and the heart that ticks the time		124	69
172: Go, Winter!	Go, Winter! Go thy ways! We want again		16	69
173: Good-By Er Howdy-Do	Say good-by er howdy-do		24	89
174: Grandfather Squeers	My grandfather Squeers," said The Raggedy Man,		72	79
175: Granny	Granny's come to our house,		40	83
176: Grant. At Rest - August 8, 1885	What shall we say of the soldier. Grant,		80	74
177: Green Fields And Running Brooks	Ho! green fields and running brooks!		16	72
178: Griggsby's Station	Pap's got his patent-right, and rich is all creation;		40	86
179: Harlie	Fold the little waxen hands		24	67
180: Has She Forgotten?	Has she forgotten? On this very May		42	77
181: He And I	Just drifting on together		40	105
182: He Called Her In	He called her in from me and shut the door.		125	71
183: Heat-Lightning	There was a curious quiet for a space		57	94
184: Her Beautiful Eyes.	O her beautiful eyes! they are as blue as the dew		18	70
185: Her Beautiful Hands	O your hands - they are strangely fair!		40	74
186: Her Face And Brow	Ah, help me! but her face and brow		14	81
187: Her Hair	The beauty of her hair bewilders me		14	73
188: Her Valentine	Somebody's sent a funny little valentine to me.		12	79
189: Her Waiting Face	In some strange place		4	74
190: Herr Weiser	Herr Weiser! Three-score-years-and-ten		40	75
191: Hik-Tee-Dik! - The War-Cry Of Billy And Buddy	When two little boys - renowned but for noise		32	69
192: His Mother's Way	Tomps 'ud allus haf to say		12	70
193: His Mother.	DEAD! my wayward boy - my own		16	70
194: His Room	I'm home again, my dear old Room,		64	71
195: His Vigil.	Close the book and dim the light,		14	74
196: Home At Night.	When chirping crickets fainter cry,		16	79
197: Honey Dripping From The Comb	How slight a thing may set one's fancy drifting		16	67
198: How Did You Rest, Last Night?	How did you rest, last night?		24	69
199: How It Happened	I got to thinkin' of her - both her parents dead and gone		32	76
200: How John Quit The Farm.	Nobody on the old farm here but Mother, me and John,		104	86
201: I Smoke My Pipe	I can't extend to every friend		40	69
202: If I knew What Poets Know	If I knew what poets know,		24	81
203: Igo And Ago	We're The Twins from Aunt Marinn's,		32	68
204: Ike Walton's Prayer	I crave, dear Lord,		58	71
205: Illileo	Illileo, the moonlight seemed lost across the vales		24	67
206: In Bohemia.	Ha! My dear! I'm back again		56	81
207: In Fervent Praise Of Picnics	Picnics is fun 'at's purty hard to beat.		4	72
208: In The Afternoon	You in the hammock; and I, near by,		24	74
209: In The Dark.	O in the depths of midnight		24	81
210: In The Evening	In the evening of our days,		24	71
211: In The Heart Of June	In the heart of June, love,		16	74
212: In The South.	There is a princess in the South		32	66
213: Indiana	Our Land - our Home - the common home indeed		14	67
214: Inscribed: Riley Love-Lyrics	To the Elect of Love, or side-by-side		20	62
215: Intellectual Limitations	Parunts knows lots more than us,		17	79
216: Iry And Billy And Jo.	Iry an' Billy an' Jo!		43	58
217: It's Got To Be	When it's got to be," - like! always say		60	64
218: Jack The Giant Killer.	Tell you a story - an' it's a fac':		36	81
219: Jack-In-The-Box	In childish days! O memory,		28	76
220: James B. Maynard	His daily, nightly task is o'er		16	79
221: Jap Miller.	Jap Miller down at Martinsville's the blamedest feller yit!		32	80
222: Jim	He was jes a plain ever'-day, all-round kind of a jour		48	68
223: Job Work	Write me a rhyme of the present time		32	69
224: John Alden And Percilly.	We got up a Christmas-doin's		72	80
225: John Brown.	Writ in between the lines of his life-deed		14	68
226: John McKeen	John McKeen, in his rusty dress,		45	72
227: John Mckeen.	John McKeen, in his rusty dress,		45	86
228: John Walsh	A strange life - strangely passed!		32	71
229: Johnson's Boy	The world is turned ag'in' me,		48	70
230: Joney	Had a hare-lip - Joney had:		32	77
231: Judith.	O her eyes are amber-fine -		26	63
232: June	O queenly month of indolent repose!		14	70
233: June At Woodruff.	Out at Woodruff Place - afar		48	68
234: Just To Be Good.	Just to be good		18	74
235: Kingry's Mill	On old Brandywine - about		80	62
236: Kissing The Rod.	O heart of mine, we shouldn't		24	78
237: Knee Deep in June	Tell you what I like the best		99	74
238: Kneeling With Herrick	Dear Lord, to Thee my knee is bent		26	68
239: Last Night - And This	Last night - how deep the darkness was!		16	73
240: Last Night - And This.	Last night - how deep the darkness was!		16	73
241: Laughter Holding Both His Sides	Ay, thou varlet! Laugh away!		12	76
242: Leedle Dutch Baby	Leedle Dutch baby haff come ter town!		24	73
243: Leonainie	Leonainie - Angels named her;		32	73
244: Let Us Forget.	Let us forget. What matters it that we		14	88
245: Liberty	For a hundred years the pulse of time	1878	216	72
246: Like His Mother Used To Make	I was born in Indiany," says a stranger, lank and slim,		24	107
247: Limitations Of Genius	The audience entire seemed pleased - indeed		30	63
248: Lines For An Album	I would not trace the hackneyed phrase		12	75
249: Little Dick And The Clock	When Dicky was sick		32	72
250: Little Jack Janitor	And there, in that ripe Summer-night, once more		167	125
251: Little Orphant Annie	Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,		48	74
252: Little-Girl-Two-Little-Girls	I'm twins, I guess, 'cause my Ma say		19	72
253: Lockerbie Street	Such a dear little street it is, nestled away		24	62
254: Long Afore He Knowed Who Santy-Claus Wuz.	Jes' a little bit o' feller - I remember still		40	115
255: Longfellow	The winds have talked with him confidingly;		14	79
256: Longfellow.	The winds have talked with him confidingly;		14	67
257: Lullaby.	The maple strews the embers of its leaves		15	79
258: Luther Benson	Poor victim of that vulture curse		40	71
259: Man's Devotion	A lover said, "O Maiden, love me well,		60	73
260: Marthy Ellen.	They's nothin' in the name to strike		54	69
261: Maymie's Story Of Red Riding Hood	W'y, one time wuz a little-weenty dirl,		172	116
262: Moon-Drowned.	Twas the height of the fete when we quitted the riot,		24	78
263: Morton	The warm pulse of the nation has grown chill;		32	69
264: Mr. Hammond's Parable	He was a Dreamer of the Days:		108	71
265: Mr. What's-His-Name.	They called him Mr. What's-his-name:		60	86
266: Mrs. Miller	John B. McKinney, Attorney and Counselor at Law,		104	72
267: My Bachelor Chum	A corpulent man is my bachelor chum,		32	75
268: My Bride That Is To Be	O soul of mine, look out and see		73	73
269: My Dancin'-Days Is Over	What is it in old fiddle-chunes 'at makes me ketch my breath		36	68
270: My Father's Halls	My father's halls, so rich and rare,		8	68
271: My Friend.	He is my friend," I said,		20	68
272: My Henry	He's jes' a great, big, awk'ard, hulkin'		30	61
273: My Jolly Friend's Secret	Ah, friend of mine, how goes it		64	76
274: My Mary	My Mary, O my Mary!		56	71
275: My Old Friend	You've a manner all so mellow,		32	70
276: Mylo Jones's Wife	Mylo Jones's wife" was all		60	69
277: Natural Perversities	I am not prone to moralize		56	115
278: Naughty Claude	When Little Claude was naughty wunst		8	63
279: Nessmuk.	I hail thee, Nessmuk, for the lofty tone		14	87
280: No Boy Knows	There are many things that boys may know		32	87
281: Noey Bixler	Another hero of those youthful years		168	95
282: Noey's Night-Piece	They ain't much 'tale' about it!" Noey said.		88	72
283: North And South.	Of the North I wove a dream,		35	68
284: Not Always Glad When We Smile	We are not always glad when we smile:		30	74
285: Nothin' To Say	Nothin' to say, my daughter! Nothin' at all to say!		20	73
286: Old Aunt Mary's (AKA "Out To Old Aunt Mary's")	Wasn't it pleasant, O brother mine,		48	92
287: Old Bob White	Old Bob White's a funny bird!		35	93
288: Old Chums	If I die first," my old chum paused to say,		14	66
289: Old Fashioned Roses	They ain't no style about 'em,		32	74
290: Old Indiany. Intended For A Dinner Of The Indiana Society Of Chicago	Old Indiany, 'course we know		63	61
291: Old John Henry	Old John's jes' made o' the commonest stuff		27	69
292: Old Man Whiskery-Whee-Kum-Wheeze	Old Man Whiskery-Whee-Kum-Wheeze		24	75
293: Old Man's Nursery Rhyme	In the jolly winters		40	80
294: Old October	Old October's purt' nigh gone,		36	66
295: Old Winters On The Farm	I have jest about decided		12	69
296: On The Banks O' Deer Crick.	On the banks o' Deer Crick! There's the place fer me!		32	67
297: On The Sunny Side	Hi and whoop-hooray, boys!		40	63
298: Only A Dream	Only a dream!		36	78
299: Orlie Wilde	A goddess, with a siren's grace,		204	71
300: Our Boyhood Haunts	Ho! I'm going back to where		28	64
301: Our Hired Girl	Our hired girl, she's 'Lizabuth Ann;		45	76
302: Our Kind of a Man	The kind of a man for you and me!		36	69
303: Our Little Girl	Her heart knew naught of sorrow,		24	73
304: Our Old Friend Neverfail	O it's good to ketch a relative 'at's richer and don't run		16	66
305: Our Own	They walk here with us, hand-in-hand;		8	70
306: Out of Nazareth	He shall sleep unscathed of thieves		36	67
307: Out Of Nazareth.	He shall sleep unscathed of thieves		36	80
308: Out Of Reach?	You think them "out of reach," your dead?		8	75
309: Out Of The Hitherwhere	Out of the hitherwhere into the Yon		24	108
310: Over The Eyes Of Gladness	The voice of One hath spoken,		24	78
311: Pan	This Pan is but an idle god, I guess,		14	75
312: Philiper Flash	Young Philiper Flash was a promising lad,		100	73
313: Pipes O' Pan At Zekesbury	The pipes of Pan! Not idler now are they		14	68
314: Plain Sermons	I saw a man - and envied him beside		16	70
315: Prior To Miss Belle's Appearance	What makes you come HERE fer, Mister,		54	59
316: Private Theatricals	A quite convincing axiom		35	72
317: Proem (AKA "Afterwhiles")	Where are they - the Afterwhiles		60	70
318: Reach Your Hand To Me.	Reach your hand to me, my friend,		24	103
319: Red Riding-Hood	Sweet little myth of the nursery story		18	79
320: Regardin' Terry Hut	Sence I tuk holt o' Gibbses' Churn		64	70
321: Right Here At Home.	Right here at home, boys, in old Hoosierdom,		36	72
322: Robert Burns Wilson.	What intuition named thee? - Through what thrill		14	68
323: Romancin'	I' b'en a-kindo' "musin'," as the feller says, and I'm		52	68
324: Say Something To Me	Say something to me! I've waited so long		24	73
325: Says He	Whatever the weather may be," says he		27	78
326: Scotty	Scotty's dead - Of course he is!		34	67
327: Scraps	There's a habit I have nurtured,		40	69
328: September Dark	The air falls chill;		18	76
329: September Dark.	The air falls chill;		18	71
330: Silence	Thousands of thousands of hushed years ago,		14	68
331: Sister Jones's Confession.	I thought the deacon liked me, yit		20	74
332: Sleep	Thou drowsy god, whose blurred eyes, half awink		14	73
333: Sleep.	Orphaned, I cry to thee:		18	76
334: Some Scattering Remarks Of Bub's.	Wunst I looked our pepper-box lid		18	67
335: Song	With a hey! and a hi! and a hey-ho rhyme!		16	62
336: Song - Born To The Purple	Most-like it was this kingly lad		36	71
337: Song - Subtlety	Whilst little Paul, convalescing, was staying		9	66
338: Song - The Dolly's Mother	A little maid, of summers four		16	69
339: Song - To The Child Julia	Little Julia, since that we		25	62
340: Song - Wind Of The Sea	Wind of the Sea, come fill my sail -		16	80
341: Song Of Parting	Say farewell, and let me go;		24	69
342: Song Of The New Year	I heard the bells at midnight		48	77
343: Squire Hawkins's Story	I hain't no hand at tellin' tales,		329	67
344: Suspense.	A woman's figure, on a ground of night		14	127
345: Sweet-Knot And Galamus	As one who cons at evening o'er an album all alone,		44	84
346: Thanksgiving.	Let us be thankful - not only because		24	86
347: That Little Dog	That little dog 'ud scratch at that door		71	74
348: That Night	You and I, and that night, with its perfume and glory!		21	74
349: That Other Maud Muller	Maud Muller worked at making hay,		26	64
350: The Ancient Printerman	O Printerman of sallow face,		30	75
351: The Artemus Of Michigan.	Grand Haven is in Michigan, and in possession, too,		36	65
352: The Bat.	Thou dread, uncanny thing,		19	67
353: The Bear-Story	W'y, wunst they wuz a Little Boy went out		142	79
354: The Beautiful City	The Beautiful City! Forever		48	94
355: The Best Is Good Enough	I quarrel not with Destiny,		19	71
356: The Best Times	When Old Folks they wuz young like us		4	65
357: The Blossoms on the Trees	Blossoms crimson, white, or blue,		22	88
358: The Blossoms On The Trees.	Blossoms crimson, white, or blue,		22	75
359: The Book Of Joyous Children	Bound and bordered in leaf-green,		48	68
360: The Book Of Joyous Children Gratefully And Affectionately Inscribed To Joel Chandler Harris	You who to the rounded prime		16	67
361: The Boy Lives On Our Farm	The boy lives on our Farm, he's not		24	59
362: The Boy Patriot	I want to be a Soldier!		36	74
363: The Boys	Where are they? - the friends of my childhood enchanted		18	70
364: The Boys' Candidate	Las' time 'at Uncle Sidney come,		6	65
365: The Brook-Song	Little brook! Little brook!		38	64
366: The Bumblebee	You better not fool with a Bumblebee!		18	65
367: The Chant Of The Cross-Bearing Child.	I bear dis cross dis many a mile.		42	72
368: The Child-World	A Child-World, yet a wondrous world no less,		146	79
369: The Circus-Day Parade	Oh, the Circus-Day parade! How the bugles played and played!		28	66
370: The Clover	Some sings of the lily, and daisy, and rose,		24	72
371: The Curse Of The Wandering Foot.	All hope of rest withdrawn me?		32	74
372: The Cyclone.	So lone I stood, the very trees seemed drawn		24	74
373: The Days Gone By	O the days gone by! O the days gone by!		18	93
374: The Dead Joke And The Funny Man	Long years ago, a funny man,		24	74
375: The Dead Lover	Time is so long when a man is dead!		12	65
376: The Drum.	O the drum!		53	73
377: The Evening Company	Within the sitting-room, the company		88	66
378: The Frog	Who am I but the Frog - the Frog!		36	67
379: The Funny Little Fellow	Twas a Funny Little Fellow		56	194
380: The Gilded Roll.	Nosing around in an old box		445	71
381: The Good, Old-Fashioned People	When we hear Uncle Sidney tell		36	74
382: The Happy Little Cripple	I'm thist a little cripple boy, an' never goin' to grow		40	65
383: The Harp Of The Minstrel	The harp of the minstrel has never a tone		24	64
384: The Harper	Like a drift of faded blossoms		16	61
385: The Hereafter.	Hereafter! O we need not waste		8	72
386: The Hired Man And Floretty	The Hired Man's supper, which he sat before,		178	79
387: The Home-Going.	We must get home - for we have been away		30	80
388: The Hoodoo.	Owned a pair o' skates onc't. - Traded		20	87
389: The Hoosier Folk-Child.	The Hoosier Folk-Child - all unsung		80	137
390: The Hoss	The hoss he is a splendud beast;		72	70
391: The Iron Horse.	No song is mine of Arab steed		62	63
392: The Jaybird	The Jaybird he's my favorite		16	64
393: The Jolly Miller	It was a Jolly Miller lived on the River Dee;		42	72
394: The Katydids	Sometimes I keep		24	62
395: The King	They rode right out of the morning sun		40	64
396: The Legend Glorified.	I deem that God is not disquieted" -		16	68
397: The Little Coat	Here's his ragged "roundabout";		48	67
398: The Little Fat Doctor.	He seemed so strange to me, every way		24	64
399: The Little Lady	O The Little Lady's dainty		28	68
400: The Little Man In The Tinshop	When I was a little boy, long ago,		65	69
401: The Little Old Poem That Nobody Reads	The little old poem that nobody reads		24	76
402: The Little Tiny Kickshaw.	O the little tiny kickshaw that Mither sent tae me,		12	71
403: The Little Town O' Tailholt	You kin boast about yer cities, and their stiddy growth and size,		20	66
404: The Loehrs And The Hammonds	Hey, Bud! O Bud!" rang out a gleeful call,		122	61
405: The Lost Kiss	I put by the half-written poem,		40	60
406: The Lost Path	Alone they walked - their fingers knit together,		20	82
407: The Lugubrious Whing-Whang	The rhyme o' The Raggedy Man's 'at's best		33	66
408: The Merman	Who would be		40	69
409: The Mulberry Tree	It's many's the scenes which is dear to my mind		32	73
410: The Nine Little Goblins	They all climbed up on a high board-fence		48	102
411: The Noble Old Elm	O big old tree, so tall an' fine,		24	65
412: The Old Band	It's mighty good to git back to the old town, shore,		32	68
413: The Old Days	The old days - the far days		24	69
414: The Old Guitar	Neglected now is the old guitar		36	76
415: The Old Hay-Mow	The Old Hay-mow's the place to play		24	71
416: The Old Home By The Mill.	This is "The old Home by the Mill" - far we still call it so,		24	69
417: The Old Man	Lo! steadfast and serene,		112	65
418: The Old Man And Jim	Old man never had much to say		80	66
419: The Old Retired Sea Captain.	The old sea captain has sailed the seas		32	72
420: The Old School-Chum	He puts the poem by, to say		22	75
421: The Old Swimmin'-Hole	Oh! the old swimmin'-hole! whare the crick so still and deep		40	69
422: The Old Times Were The Best	Friends, my heart is half aweary		12	79
423: The Old Tramp	A Old Tramp slep' in our stable wunst,		8	76
424: The Old Trundle-Bed	O the old trundle-bed where I slept when a boy!		24	68
425: The Old Year And The New.	As one in sorrow looks upon		32	70
426: The Old-Fashioned Bible	How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood		33	61
427: The Old-Home Folks	Such was the Child-World of the long-ago		417	61
428: The Orchard Lands Of Long Ago	The orchard lands of Long Ago!		30	82
429: The Passing Of A Heart.	O touch me with your hands		18	67
430: The Pathos Of Applause	The greeting of the company throughout		36	84
431: The Penalty Of Genius	When little 'Pollus Morton he's		18	61
432: The Pet Coon	Noey Bixler ketched him, and fetched him in to me		24	69
433: The Pixy People	It was just a very		64	63
434: The Plaint Human	Season of snows, and season of flowers,		8	63
435: The Poet's Love For The Children	Kindly and warm and tender,		24	71
436: The Quarrel.	They faced each other: Topaz-brown		41	68
437: The Quest	I am looking for Love. Has he passed this way,		24	60
438: The Quiet Lodger.	The man that rooms next door to me:		80	66
439: The Raggedy Man	O The Raggedy Man! He works fer Pa;		40	78
440: The Rain.	The rain! the rain! the rain!		24	67
441: The Rainy Morning	The dawn of the day was dreary,		24	71
442: The Rambo-Tree	When Autumn shakes the rambo-tree		24	70
443: The Rider Of The Knee	Knightly Rider of the Knee		16	71
444: The Ripest Peach	The ripest peach is highest on the tree		16	70
445: The Rival.	I so loved once, when Death came by I hid		12	72
446: The Rivals; Or The Showman's Ruse	Guess 'at Billy haint got back,		74	62
447: The Rose.	It tossed its head at the wooing breeze;		42	89
448: The Runaway Boy	Wunst I sassed my Pa, an' he		40	62
449: The Same Old Story	The same old story told again		32	72
450: The Serenade	The midnight is not more bewildering		14	66
451: The Sermon Of The Rose	Wilful we are in our infirmity		42	66
452: The Shoemaker.	Thou Poet, who, like any lark,		40	70
453: The Shower	The landscape, like the awed face of a child,		20	62
454: The Silent Victors	Deep, tender, firm and true, the Nation's heart		128	70
455: The Singer.	While with Ambition's hectic flame		8	76
456: The Song Of Yesterday	But yesterday		72	64
457: The South Wind and the Sun	O The South Wind and the Sun!		160	71
458: The South Wind And The Sun	O the South Wind and the Sun		160	66
459: The Speeding Of The King's Spite	A king - estranged from his loving Queen		136	69
460: The Sphinx	I know all about the Sphinx		8	63
461: The Squirtgun Uncle Maked Me	Uncle Sidney, when he wuz here,		30	70
462: The Stepmother	First she come to our house,		18	68
463: The Touches Of Her Hands	The touches of her hands are like the fall		19	70
464: The Town Karnteel	The Town Karnteel! It's who'll reveal		39	61
465: The Train Misser	Ll where in the world my eyes has bin		28	90
466: The Traveling Man	Could I pour out the nectar the gods only can,		34	73
467: The Treasure Of The Wise Man	O the night was dark and the night was late,		16	64
468: The Tree-Toad	S cur'ous-like," said the tree-toad,		28	72
469: The Tree-Toad.	Scurious-like," said the tree-toad,		28	81
470: The Twins.	One 's the pictur' of his Pa,		25	75
471: The Wandering Jew	The stars are falling, and the sky		48	64
472: The Wandering Jew.	The stars are failing, and the sky		48	76
473: The Watches Of The Night.	O the waiting in the watches of the night!		28	83
474: The Way It Wuz.	Las' July - an', I persume		73	73
475: The Wife-Blessed.	In youth he wrought, with eyes ablur,		18	76
476: Their Sweet Sorrow	They meet to say farewell: Their way		20	57
477: Their Sweet Sorrow.	They meet to say farewell: Their way		20	61
478: Them Flowers.	Take a feller 'at's sick and laid up on the shelf,		24	66
479: Them Old Cheery Words	Pap he allus ust to say,		72	69
480: Thinkin' Back	I've ben thinkin' back, of late,		42	63
481: This Man Jones.	This man Jones was what you'd call		64	67
482: Thomas The Pretender	Tommy's alluz playin' jokes,		16	66
483: Thoughts Fer The Discuraged Farmer	The summer winds is sniffin' round the bloomin' locus' trees;		40	80
484: Three Dead Friends.	Always suddenly they are gone		80	75
485: Through Sleepy-Land	Where do you go when you go to sleep,		25	68
486: Time 1	The ticking - ticking - ticking of the clock!		14	68
487: Time 2	Wait for the morning! Ah! We wait indeed		14	72
488: Time Of Clearer Twitterings	Time of crisp and tawny leaves,		64	59
489: Tired Out	tired out!" Yet face and brow		24	65
490: To A Boy Whistling	The smiling face of a happy boy		16	67
491: To Almon Keefer	This first book that I ever knew		24	58
492: To An Importunate Ghost.	Get gone, thou most uncomfortable ghost!		14	62
493: To Annie	When the lids of dusk are falling		8	67
494: To Hear Her Sing.	To hear her sing - to hear her sing		32	71
495: To My Good Master.	In fancy, always, at thy desk, thrown wide,		14	63
496: To My Old Friend, William Leachman	Fer forty year and better you have been a friend to me,		62	57
497: To Robert Burns	Sweet Singer that I loe the maist		60	64
498: To Santa Claus	Most tangible of all the gods that be,		32	67
499: To The Good Old-Fashioned People	The deadnin' and the thicket's jes' a b'ilin' full o' June,		12	58
500: To The Judge	Friend of my earliest youth,		40	56
501: To The Quiet Observer	Dear old friend of us all in need		16	67
502: To The Serenader.	Tinkle on, O sweet guitar,		24	61
503: To Young E. Allison - Bookman	The bookman he's a humming-bird		53	64
504: Told By "The Noted Traveler"	Coming, clean from the Maryland-end		204	55
505: Tom Johnson's Quit.	A passel o' the boys last night		56	57
506: Tom Van Arden.	Tom Van Arden, my old friend,		88	60
507: Tommy Smith	Dimple-cheeked and rosy-lipped,		30	59
508: Tradin' Joe	I'm one o' these cur'ous kind o' chaps		129	63
509: Tugg Martin.	Tugg Martin's tough. - No doubt o' that!		82	68
510: Uncle Mart's Poem - The Old Snow-Man	Ho! the old Snow-Man		120	77
511: Uncle Sidney To Marcellus	Marcellus, won't you tell us		16	66
512: Up And Down Old Brandywine	Up and down old Brandywine,		104	56
513: Wait For The Morning.	Wait for the morning: - It will come, indeed,		16	88
514: Waitin' Fer The Cat To Die	Lawzy! don't I rickollect		48	88
515: Want To Be Whur Mother Is.	Want to be whur mother is! Want to be whur mother is!		24	62
516: Wash Lowry's Reminiscence	And you're the poet of this concern?		96	69
517: We Are Not Always Glad When We Smile	We are not always glad when we smile:		30	54
518: We Must Believe	We must believe		42	59
519: We Must Get Home	We must get home! How could we stray like this?		66	68
520: We To Sigh Instead of Sing	Rain and rain! And rain and rain!		24	82
521: We To Sigh Instead Of Sing.	Rain and rain! and rain and rain!		24	72
522: Wet-Weather Talk	It hain't no use to grumble and complane;		48	67
523: What "Old Santa" Overheard	Tis said old Santa Claus one time		24	59
524: What Chris'mas Fetched The Wigginses.	Wintertime, er Summertime,		354	83
525: What Smith Knew About Farming	There wasn't two purtier farms in the state		158	70
526: What The Wind Said	I muse to-day, in a listless way,		144	57
527: When Age Comes On.	When Age comes on!		20	60
528: When Bessie Died	If from your own the dimpled hands had slipped,		31	64
529: When De Folks Is Gone	What dat scratchin' at de kitchin do'?		20	62
530: When Early March Seems Middle May	When country roads begin to thaw		36	65
531: When Evening Shadows Fall	When evening shadows fall,		24	90
532: When June Is Here.	When June is here - what art have we to sing		14	68
533: When Lide Married Him	When Lide married him - w'y, she had to jes dee-fy		24	76
534: When Mother Combed My Hair	When Memory, with gentle hand,		32	89
535: When My Dreams Come True	When my dreams come true - when my dreams come true		24	71
536: When Old Jack Died	When Old Jack died, we stayed from school (they said,		42	64
537: When She Comes Home	When she comes home again! A thousand ways		14	68
538: When The Frost Is On The Punkin	When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,		32	74
539: When The Green Gits Back In The Trees	In Spring, when the green gits back in the trees,		30	70
540: When The Hearse Comes Back	A thing 'at's 'bout as tryin' as a healthy man kin meet		48	58
541: When We First Played "Show"	Wasn't it a good time,		56	61
542: When We Three Meet	When we three meet? Ah! friend of mine		15	67
543: Where Shall We Land?	All listlessly we float		42	65
544: Where the Children used to Play	The old farm-home is Mother's yet and mine,		32	60
545: Where The Children Used To Play	The old farm-home is Mother's yet and mine,		32	60
546: Where-Away.	O the Lands of Where-Away!		40	66
547: While The Musician Played.	O it was but a dream I had		40	63
548: Who Bides His Time	Who bides his time, and day by day		24	59
549: Who Santy-Claus Wuz	Jes' a little bit o' feller - I remember still		40	69
550: Winter Fancies	Winter without		37	82
551: Wortermelon Time	Old wortermelon time is a-comin' round again,		52	61
552: Writin' Back To The Home-Folks	My dear old friends - It jes beats all,		48	72
553: Ylladmar	Her hair was, oh, so dense a blur		26	66

About:
James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer and poet. Known as the "Hoosier Poet", National Poet and the Children's Poet, he started his career during 1875 writing newspaper verse in Indiana dialect for the Indianapolis Journal.
His verse tended to be humorous or sentimental, and of the approximately one-thousand poems that Riley published, over half are in dialect. Claiming that simple sentiments that come direct from the heart were the reason for his success, Riley vended verse about ordinary topics that were heart high. Riley was a bestselling author during the early 1900s and earned a steady income from royalties; he also traveled and gave public readings of his poetry. His favorite authors were Robert Burns and Charles Dickens, and Riley himself befriended bestselling Indiana authors such as Booth Tarkington, George Ade and Meredith Nicholson. Many of his works were illustrated by the popular illustrator Howard Chandler Christy.

This page viewed 3280 times.