Saturday, October 18, 2008

WHEN THE FROST IS ON THE PUNKIN AND THE FODDERS IN THE SHOCK

This is another poem by James Whitcomb Riley that I used to love as a child. I hope you like it, too. It seems so appropriate for this time of the year.



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 the time 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 fodders 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 blossoms 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 overhead!—
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 cellar-floor in red and yaller heaps;
And your cider-makin's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With theyr mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and sausage too!...
I don't know how to tell it—but ef such 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.





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29 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Great post! Great reminder of years ago.

Kate said...

Hi Judy, That was great ! I'm ashamed to admit it but I had never heard of James Whitcomb Riley but I will definitely Google him to check him out. Thanks, Kate x.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing that poem, Judy. I was not familiar with that one, but I love it. It is so much fun to recite out loud because of the way the words roll so trippingly off your tongue! In fact, I was reading it out loud as I read your post and my daughter came in and ssid, "Who are you talking to?" :-) The poet describes the feeling of this time of year so very well.

Jeannie said...

I have to admit that I've never heard this poem before either. It's really fun. Thanks for sharing.

clairz said...

Hey, his talkin's a bit like Sarah Palin's!

It's so fun to visit your blog these days, Judy. Thank you for making it so boo-tiful for us all.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Judy think I heard this years ago. Maybe just part of it.
Thanks for putting me in the spirit of what children are excited about.
Take Care

Lilly said...

your blog looks amazing - love the header and I still just love coming here to hear the music!!!
I enjoyed that poem. I wonder how old it is?

Margie's Musings said...

Had certainly heard of James Whitcomb Riley. He was a classic poet.

Margaret Cloud said...

I like the post it is approperate for this season, your pictures are nice. I like your animated pumpkin faces, nice touch. I invite you to come on by.

Clara....in TN said...

I know the author, but never heard the poem. Very nice. You've done really good decorating your blog for Halloween! I love it!

Rachel said...

I had never read this before! I like it!!

Grammy said...

Hi, Judy,
Yes, I love james Whitcomb Riley! I read a lot of his poems when I was in school what seems like a hundred years ago. ha.
thanks for reminding me of him.
Love,
Grammy

Anonymous said...

That's a new one for me, it's put me in a right Autumn mood

June Saville said...

The poem is so evocative Judy. I can see it all, can't you?
June in Oz

Jamie Dawn said...

What a delightful poem!
I like the way this guy uses words.
Anyone who says stuff like feller and yaller and punkin is speaking my language.
I find I'm dropping more and more of my gs on the ends of words... wishin' not wishing.
It's down home kind of language, and me likes it!!

:-)

Balisha said...

Loved reading this one again. Your blog is so clever...always fun to visit.

patsy said...

yes I put them in water in the south east window. but it is better to root them in early spring say starting in march.

Anonymous said...

I love all your Halloween things. You have some really cute pictures and all so I can show my grandson.

Teresa said...

Hey, Judy! Rob was a teen friend of my uncle's too. My uncle died in a car wreck in 1968. He seemed nice. Be sure to see my next post, about the festival. I made a special point to take a photo of the store just for you.
xo teresa

Leigh said...

Hey mom,

Love the poem and the music. I haven't heard the monstor mash since I was in school! heheh

Love you!

Leigh

Nancy said...

That old poem is full of vivid imagery--thanks for the reminder!

Linda said...

Your blog is delightful these days. Really fun.

I'm blogging now on both my websites now so you can choose the one you prefer.

texastooregon.blogspot.com
texastooregon.webpress.com

Once I know my Blogger blog is stable I will only publish on that one but for now I'm publishing on both sites.

Sylvia and I are really having problems with Blogger.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Hi Judy, loved the poem, very interesting blog as usual.


Yvonne

pamwax said...

Love the poem.

Wish Fall would hurry up and get to El Paso.

JunieRose2005 said...

Judy,


I am sure enjoying the poetry!

Thanks! :)


Junie

Unknown said...

Judy, your site is so colorful and full of season cheer! Way to go!
I can learn a thing or two from you about importing great graphics for an eye-popping site.
Enjoyed the childhood poem, as well. As a retired teacher, I miss story time the most when I would share seasonal stories and poems with my little ones.
Thanks too for your recent visit and prayers for my friend's marriage.
Means a lot to me.
Jlo

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Hi Judy, thanks for the visit, much appreciated as usual, there are 27 songs, a few are English so perhaps you wouldn't know them.
Hope all is well your end.
Take care.


Yvonne:

Some Kinda Wonderful said...

Thank you so much, Judy. I have not taken the time to sit and just enjoy reading a poem in ages. That was quite soul satisfyin'.

Anil P said...

I had never read the poem before, and even though I haven't heard it being read aloud I can imagine how it must roll so :)

Thanks for sharing a lovely poem.