When the Frost is on the Punkin

When the Frost is on the Punkin

Original Text
James Whitcomb Riley, Complete Works, Memorial edn. in 10 vols. (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1916): III, 826-28. PS 2700 F16 Robarts Library.
1When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
2And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
3And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
4And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
5O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
6With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
7As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
8When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
9They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
10When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here --
11Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
12And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
13But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
14Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
15Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock --
16When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.
17The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
18And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
19The stubble in the furries -- kindo' lonesome-like, but still
20A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
21The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
22The hosses in theyr stalls below -- the clover over-head! --
23O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
24When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!
25Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
26Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
27And your cider-makin' 's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
28With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...
29I don't know how to tell it -- but ef sich a thing could be
30As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me --
31I'd want to 'commodate 'em -- all the whole-indurin' flock --
32When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

Notes

1] punlin: pumpkin.
shock: heap of sheaves of grain or corn piled in the field. Back to Line
3] guineys: guinea fowl, birds originally from West Africa raised in farms for their meat. Back to Line
4] hallylooyer: hallelujah. Back to Line
5] feller: fellow. Back to Line
9] kindo' harty-like: kind of hearty-like. Back to Line
14] airly: early. Back to Line
17] tossels: tassels. Back to Line
19] furries: furrows. Back to Line
21] medder: meadow. Back to Line
27] wimmern-folks: women-folks. Back to Line
28] mince: minced meat, for pies.
souse: pickled foods (e.g., fish). Back to Line
29] ef: if. Back to Line
30] boardin': the `board' from "room and board," i.e., meals (but not lodging). Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1882
Publication Notes
Indianapolis Journal (August 5, 1882)
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1998.
Rhyme
aabbccdd