Section: «Poems»

Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings: artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.); a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").

Johnson's Boy

The world is turned ag'in' me,And people says, 'They guessThat nothin' else is in meBut pure maliciousness!'I git the blame for doin'What other chaps..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Inscribed

To the Elect of Love,--or side-by-sideIn raptest ecstasy, or sundered wideBy seas that bear no message to or froBetween the loved and lost of long..

© James Whitcomb Riley

In The South

There is a princess in the SouthAbout whose beauty rumors humLike honey-bees about the mouthOf roses dewdrops falter from;And O her hair is like the..

© James Whitcomb Riley

An Autumnal Extravaganza

With a sweeter voice than birdsDare to twitter in their sleep,Pipe for me a tune of words,Till my dancing fancies leapInto freedom vaster farThan the..

© James Whitcomb Riley

A Song Of Singing

Sing! gangling lad, along the brinkOf wild brook-ways of shoal and deep,Where killdees dip, and cattle drink,And glinting little minnows leap!Sing!..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Mr. What's-His-Name

They called him Mr. What's-his-name:From where he was, or why he came,Or when, or what he found to do,Nobody in the city knew.He lived, it seemed..

© James Whitcomb Riley

The Ripest Peach

The ripest peach is highest on the tree --And so her love, beyond the reach of me,Is dearest in my sight. Sweet breezes, bowHer heart down to me..

© James Whitcomb Riley

When Bessie Died

If from your own the dimpled hands had slipped,And ne'er would nestle in your palm again;If the white feet into the grave had tripped--'When Bessie..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Mylo Jones's Wife

'Mylo Jones's wife' was allI heerd, mighty near, last Fall--Visitun relations downT'other side of Morgantown!Mylo Jones's wife she doesThis and that..

© James Whitcomb Riley

A Variation

I am tired of this!Nothing else but loving!Nothing else but kiss and kiss,Coo, and turtle-doving!Can't you change the order some?Hate me just a..

© James Whitcomb Riley

A Wrangdillion

Dexery-tethery! down in the dike,Under the ooze and the slime,Nestles the wraith of a reticent Gryke,Blubbering bubbles of rhyme:Though the reeds..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Billy's Alphabetical Animal Show

A was an elegant ApeWho tied up his ears with red tape,And wore a long veilHalf revealing his tailWhich was trimmed with jet bugles and crape.B was a..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Friday Afternoon

To William Morris Pierson[1868-1870]Of the wealth of facts and fanciesThat our memories may recall,The old school-day romancesAre the dearest, after..

© James Whitcomb Riley

When Old Jack Died

I.When old Jack died, we staid from school (they said,At home, we needn't go that day), and noneOf us ate any breakfast--only one,And that was..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Doc Sifers

Of all the doctors I could cite you to in this-'ere townDoc Sifers is my favorite, jes' take him up and down!Count in the Bethel Neighberhood, and..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Dot Leedle Boy

Ot's a leedle Gristmas storyDot I told der leedle folks--Und I vant you stop dot laughin'Und grackin' funny jokes!--So help me Peter-Moses!Ot's no..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Maymie's Story Of Red Riding Hood

W'y, one time wuz a little-weenty dirl,An' she wuz named Red Riding Hood, 'cause her--Her _Ma_ she maked a little red cloak fer her'At turnt up over..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Laughter Holding Both His Sides

Ay, thou varlet! Laugh away!All the world's a holiday!Laugh away, and roar and shoutTill thy hoarse tongue lolleth out!Bloat thy cheeks, and bulge..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Kneeling With Herrick

Dear Lord, to Thee my knee is bent.--Give me content--Full-pleasured with what comes to me,What e'er it be:An humble roof--a frugal board,And simple..

© James Whitcomb Riley

In The Evening

IIn the evening of our days,When the first far stars aboveGlimmer dimmer, through the haze,Than the dewy eyes of love,Shall we mournfully revertTo..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Climatic Sorcery

When frost's all on our winder, an' the snow'sAll out-o'-doors, our 'Old-Kriss'-milkman goesA-drivin' round, ist purt'-nigh froze to death,With his..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Heat-Lightning

There was a curious quiet for a spaceDirectly following: and in the faceOf one rapt listener pulsed the flush and glowOf the heat-lightning that pent..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Only A Dream

Only a dream!Her head is bentOver the keys of the instrument,While her trembling fingers go astrayIn the foolish tune she tries to play.He smiles in..

© James Whitcomb Riley

Noey Bixler

Another hero of those youthful yearsReturns, as Noey Bixler's name appears.And Noey--if in any special way--Was notably good-natured.--Work or playHe..

© James Whitcomb Riley

North And South

Of the North I wove a dream,All bespangled with the gleamOf the glancing wings of swallowsDipping ripples in a stream,That, like a tide of wine,Wound..

© James Whitcomb Riley