"When the Frost is on the Punkin"*

4:45 PM Edit This 2 Comments »
My Gramma Lee used to read me this poem when I would stay the night with her when I was little. She always said it was one of her favorites! I was thinking about the poem in my head today and thought it would only be appropriate to post it on here for all to enjoy!

WHEN THE FROST IS ON THE PUNKIN
by: James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)
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!

2 comments:

Jana said...

Well, I had no idea about this blog. I loved reading everything. Thank you for the ownderful things you said about Warren. I miss him terribly at times. We really are excited for Riley to be born. I know its a few months but it is really hard to wait isn't it.
Talk to you soon.
Love and miss you guys!

WTBroke said...

I had no idea you had a blog!! I am so excited to be able to keep up with you guys. Thank you also for your writings of our family. What wonderful things. Let me know if you need anything. I would love to help in any way I can. We love you guys! Tana