Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The synopsis of how I feel about fall

As one who has Hoosier blood running through my veins I cannot get through a cool, crisp fall morning without the words of James Whitcomb Riley running through my head:

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, bare-headed, 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' hearty-like about the atmosphere,
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here--
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossoms on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetisin'; 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 rustle 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' sermons 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 overhead!--
O, it sets my heart a-clikin' like the tikin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!
James Whitcomb Riley

2 comments:

Mom said...

I memorized several of Riley's poems as a child. My Grandma Ambler thought all children should be well read and also be able to recite poetry. She also happened to teach elocution. I also had to memorize and recite poems at school. This brought back some fond memories.
Thanks for sharing.

Kristen said...

Well said!! I have never read that poem before, but I absolutely fell in love with it! Thanks!

By the way, I tagged you in my blog..have fun! http://cornerofcreation.blogspot.com