Hik-Tee-Dik! - The War-Cry Of Billy And Buddy

When two little boys - renowned but for noise -
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! -
May hurt a whole school, and the head it employs,
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
Such loud and hilarious pupils indeed
Need learning - and yet something further they need,
Though fond hearts that love them may sorrow and bleed.
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!

O the schoolmarm was cool, and in no wise a fool;
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
And in ruling her ranks it was her rule to rule;
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
So when these two pupils conspired, every day,
Some mad piece of mischief, with whoop and hoo-ray,
That hurt yet defied her, - how happy were they! -
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!

At the ring of the bell they 'd rush in with a yell -
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
And they'd bang the school-door till the plastering fell,
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
They'd clinch as they came, and pretend not to see
As they knocked her desk over - then, My! and O-me!
How awfully sorry they'd both seem to be!
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!



This trick seemed so neat and so safe a conceit, -
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy! -
They played it three times - though the third they were beat;
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!
For the teacher, she righted her desk - raised the lid
And folded and packed away each little kid -
Closed the incident so - yes, and locked it, she did -
    Hik-tee-dik! Billy and Buddy!

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

The Artemus Of Michigan.

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

The Train Misser

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James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

Time 1

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

English

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Billy's Alphabetical Animal Show.

A was an elegant Ape
Who tied up his ears with red tape,
    And wore a long veil
    Half revealing his tail
Which was trimmed with jet bugles and crape.

B was a boastful old Bear
Who used to say, - "Hoomh! I declare
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C was a Codfish who sighed
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How glad he would be that he died!

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James Whitcomb Riley

Friday Afternoon

TO WILLIAM MORRIS PIERSON

[1868-1870]

Of the wealth of facts and fancies
    That our memories may recall,
The old school-day romances
    Are the dearest, after all! - .
When some sweet thought revises
    The half-forgotten tune
That opened "Exercises"
    On "Friday Afternoon."

We seem to hear the clicking
    Of the pencil and the pen,
And the solemn, ceaseless ticking
    Of the timepiece ticking then;
And we note the watchful master,
    As he waves the warning rod,
With our own heart beating faster
    Than the boy's who threw the wad.

Some little hand uplifted,
    And the creaking of a shoe: -
A problem left unsifted
    For the teacher's hand to do:
The murmured hum of learning -
    And the ...

James Whitcomb Riley

Little Dick And The Clock

When Dicky was sick
    In the night, and the clock,
As he listened, said "Tick-
    Atty - tick-atty - tock!"
He said that it said,
    Every time it said "Tick,"
It said "Sick," instead,
    And he heard it say "Sick!"
And when it said "Tick-
    Atty - tick-atty - tock,"
He said it said "Sick-
    Atty - sick-atty - sock!"
And he tried to see then,
    But the light was too dim,
Yet he heard it again -
    And't was talking to him!

And then it said "Sick-
    Atty - sick-atty - sick
You poor little Dick-
    Atty - Dick-atty - dock!
Have you got the hick-
    Atties? Hi! send for Doc
To hurry up quick
    Atty - quick-atty - quock,
And heat a hot brick-
    Atty - brick-at...

James Whitcomb Riley

Smack In School, The

A district school, not far away,
Mid Berkshire's hills, one winter's day,
Was humming with its wonted noise
Of threescore mingled girls and boys;
Some few upon their tasks intent,
But more on furtive mischief bent.
The while the master's downward look
Was fastened on a copy-book;
When suddenly, behind his back,
Rose sharp and clear a rousing smack!
As 'twere a battery of bliss
Let off in one tremendous kiss!
"What's that?" the startled master cries;
"That, thir," a little imp replies,
"Wath William Willith, if you pleathe,
I thaw him kith Thuthanna Peathe!"
With frown to make a statue thrill,
The master thundered, "Hither, Will!"
Like wretch o'ertaken in his track,
With stolen chattels on his back,
Will hung his head in fear and shame,

William Pitt Palmer

Little Jack Janitor

And there, in that ripe Summer-night, once more
A wintry coolness through the open door
And window seemed to touch each glowing face
Refreshingly; and, for a fleeting space,
The quickened fancy, through the fragrant air,
Saw snowflakes whirling where the roseleaves were,
And sounds of veriest jingling bells again
Were heard in tinkling spoons and glasses then.

Thus Uncle Mart's old poem sounded young
And crisp and fresh and clear as when first sung,
Away back in the wakening of Spring
When his rhyme and the robin, chorusing,
Rumored, in duo-fanfare, of the soon
Invading johnny-jump-ups, with platoon
On platoon of sweet-williams, marshaled fine
To blooméd blarings of the trumpet-vine.

The poet turned to whisperingly confer
A moment with "The No...

James Whitcomb Riley

Mr. And Mrs. Spikky Sparrow.



    I.

On a little piece of wood
Mr. Spikky Sparrow stood:
Mrs. Sparrow sate close by,
A-making of an insect-pie
For her little children five,
In the nest and all alive;
Singing with a cheerful smile,
To amuse them all the while,
"Twikky wikky wikky wee,
Wikky bikky twikky tee,
Spikky bikky bee!"


    II.

Mrs. Spikky Sparrow said,
"Spikky, darling! in my head
Many thoughts of trouble come,
Like to flies upon a plum.
All last night, among the trees,
I heard you cough, I heard you sneeze;
And thought I, 'It's come to that
Because he does not wear a hat!'
Chippy wippy sikky tee,
Bikky wikky tikky mee,
Spikky chippy wee!


    III.

Edward Lear