A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 4 "It"

A wee little worm in a hickory-nut
    Sang, happy as he could be, -



"O I live in the heart of the whole round world,
    And it all belongs to me!"

James Whitcomb Riley

James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer, poet, and best-selling author. He was known as the "Hoosier Poet" and the "Children's Poet" for his dialect works and children's poetry respectively. Over his career, Riley authored approximately 1,000 poems, including "Little Orphant Annie" and "The Raggedy Man". His influence extended into the 20th century, and his works continued to be celebrated for their nostalgic and rural themes.

James Whitcomb Riley

A Session With Uncle Sidney - III - Sings A "Winky-Tooden" Song

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

An Old Year's Address

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

Doc Sifers.

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

Tired Out

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 5 The Daring Prince

A daring prince, of the realm Rangg Dhune,
Once went up in a big balloon

That caught and stuck on the horns of the moon,
And he hung up there till next day noon -
When all at once he exclaimed, "Hoot-toot!"
And then came down in his parachute.

James Whitcomb Riley

A Session With Uncle Sidney - III - Sings A "Winky-Tooden" Song

O here's a little rhyme for the Spring- or Summer-time -
    An a-ho-winky-tooden-an-a-ho! -
Just a little bit o' tune you can twitter, May or June,
    An a-ho-winky-tooden-an-a-ho!
It's a song that soars and sings,
As the birds that twang their wings
Or the katydids and things
    Thus and so, don't you know,
    An a-ho-winky-tooden-an-a-ho!

It's a song just broken loose, with no reason or excuse -
    An a-ho-winky-tooden-an-a-ho!
You can sing along with it - or it matters not a bit -
    An a-ho-winky-tooden-an-a-ho!
It's a lovely little thing
That 'most any one could sing
With a ringle-dingle-ding,
    Soft and low, don't you know,
    An a-ho-winky-tooden-an-a-ho!

James Whitcomb Riley

A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 2 The Imperious Angler

Miss Medairy Dory-Ann
Cast her line and caught a man,


But when he looked so pleased, alack!
She unhooked and plunked him back. -
"I never like to catch what I can,"
Said Miss Medairy Dory-Ann.

James Whitcomb Riley

A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 3 The Gathering Of The Clans

[Voice from behind high board-fence.]



"Where's the crowd that dares to go
Where I dare to lead? - you know!"



"Well, here's one!"
Shouts Ezry Dunn.



"Count me two!"
Yells Cootsy Drew.



"Here's yer three!"
Sings Babe Magee.



"Score me four!"
Roars Leech-hole Moore.



"Tally - five!"
Howls Jamesy Clive.



"I make six!"
Chirps Herbert Dix.



"Punctchul! - seven!"
Pipes Runt Replevin.



"Mark me eight!"
Grunts Mealbag Nate.



"I'm yet nine!"
Growls "Lud'rick" Stein.



"Hi! here's ten!"...

James Whitcomb Riley

A Session With Uncle Sidney - II - Uncle Brightens Up

Uncle he says 'at 'way down in the sea
Ever'thing's ist like it used to be: -
He says they's mermaids, an' mermens, too,
An' little merchildern, like me an' you -
Little merboys, with tops an' balls,
An' little mergirls, with little merdolls.

Uncle Sidney's vurry proud
    Of little Leslie-Janey,
'Cause she's so smart, an' goes to school
    Clean 'way in Pennsylvany!


She print' an' sent a postul-card
    To Uncle Sidney, telling
How glad he'll be to hear that she
    "Toock the onners in Speling."

Uncle he learns us to rhyme an' write
An' all be poets an' all recite:
His little-est poet's his little-est niece,
An' this is her little-est poetry-piece.

James Whitcomb Riley

A Session With Uncle Sidney - IV - And Makes Nursery Rhymes - 1 The Diners In The Kitchen

Our dog Fred
Et the bread.



Our dog Dash
Et the hash.



Our dog Pete
Et the meat.



Our dog Davy
Et the gravy.



Our dog Toffy
Et the coffee.



Our dog Jake
Et the cake.



Our dog Trip
Et the dip.

And - the worst,
From the first, -



Our dog Fido
Et the pie-dough.

James Whitcomb Riley