Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A PEN-PICTUR' OF A CERT'IN FRIVVOLUS OLD MAN, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A PEN-PICTUR' OF A CERT'IN FRIVVOLUS OLD MAN, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Most ontimely old man yit!
Last Line: "sich a fool-old-man as me!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Children; Churches; Old Age; Childhood; Cathedrals


MOST ontimely old man yit!
'Pear-like sometimes he jest tries
His fool-self, and takes the bitt
In his teeth and jest de-fies
All perpryties! -- Lay and swet
Doin' nothin' -- only jest
Sorto' speckillatun on
Whare old summer-times is gone,
And 'bout things that he loved best
When a youngster! Heerd him say
Spring-times made him thataway --
Speshully on Sund'ys -- when
Sun shines out and in again,
And the lonesome old hens they
Git off under the old kern-
Bushes, and in deep concern
Talk-like to theyrselves, and scratch
Kindo' absunt-minded, jest
Like theyr thoughts was fur away
In some neghbor's gyarden-patch
Folks has tended keerfulest!
Heerd the old man dwell on these
Idys time and time again! --
Heerd him claim that orchurd-trees
Bloomin', put the mischief in
His old hart sometimes that bad
And owdacious that he "had
To break loose someway," says he,
"Ornry as I ust to be!"

Heerd him say one time -- when I
Was a sorto' standin' by,
And the air so still and clear,
Heerd the bell fer church clean here! --
Said: "Ef I could climb and set
On the old three-cornerd rail
Old home-place, nigh Maryette',
Swap my soul off, hide and tale!"
And-sir! blame ef tear and laugh
Didn't ketch him half and half!
"Oh!" he says, "to wake and be
Barefoot, in the airly dawn
In the pastur'! -- thare," says he,
"Standin' whare the cow's slep' on
The cold, dewy grass that's got
Print of her jest steamy hot
Fer to warm a feller's heels
In a while! -- How good it feels!
Sund'y! -- Country! -- Morning! -- Hear
Nothin' but the silunce -- see
Nothin' but green woods and clear
Skies and unwrit poetry
By the acre! . . . Oh!" says he,
"What's this voice of mine? -- to seek
To speak out, and yit can't speak!
"Think! -- the lazyest of days" --
Takin' his contrairyest leap,
He went on, -- "git up, er sleep --
Er whilse feedin', watch the haze
Dancin' crost the wheat, -- and keep
My pipe goin' leisurely --
Puff and whiff as pleases me, --
Er I'll leave a trail of smoke
Through the house! -- no one'll say
'Throw that nasty thing away!'
'Pear-like nothin' sacerd's broke,
Goin' barefoot ef I chuse! --
I have fiddled; -- and dug bait
And went fishin'; -- pitched hoss-shoes --
Whare they couldn't see us from
The main road. -- And I've beat some.
I've set round and had my joke
With the thrashers at the barn --
And I've swapped 'em yarn fer yarn! --
Er I've he'pped the childern poke
Fer hens'-nests -- agged on a match
'Twixt the boys, to watch 'em scratch
And paw round and rip and tare,
And bu'st buttons and pull hair
To theyr rompin' harts' content --
And me jest a-settin' thare
Hatchin' out more devilment!

"What you s'pose now ort to be
Done with sich a man?" says he --
"Sich a fool-old-man as me!"





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net