The Twins.

    One 's the pictur' of his Pa,
    And the other of her Ma -
    Jes the bossest pair o' babies 'at a mortal ever saw!
    And we love 'em as the bees
    Loves the blossoms of the trees,
    A-ridin' and a-rompin' in the breeze!

    One's got her Mammy's eyes -
    Soft and blue as Apurl-skies -
    With the same sort of a smile, like - Yes,
                and mouth about her size, -
    Dimples, too, in cheek and chin,
    'At my lips jes wallers in,
    A-goin' to work, er gittin' home agin.

    And the other - Well, they say
    That he's got his Daddy's way
    O' bein' ruther soberfied, er ruther extry gay, -
    That he either cries his best,
    Er he laughs his howlin'est -
    Like all he lacked was buttons and a vest!

    Look at her! - and look at him! -
    Talk about yer "Cheru-bim!"
    Roll 'em up in dreams together, rosy arm and chubby limb!
    O we love 'em as the bees
    Loves the blossoms of the trees,
    A-ridin' and a-rompin' in the breeze!

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

To My Good Master.

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

A Letter To A Friend

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

An Out-Worn Sappho

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

Her Hair

James Whitcomb Riley, Simple Poetry

English

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Little-Girl-Two-Little-Girls

I'm twins, I guess, 'cause my Ma say
    I'm two little girls. An' one o' me
    Is Good little girl; an' th'other 'n' she
    Is Bad little girl as she can be!
An' Ma say so, 'most ever' day.

An' she's the funniest Ma! 'Cause when
    My Doll won't mind, an' I ist cry,
    W'y, nen my Ma she sob an' sigh,
    An' say, "Dear Good little girl, good-bye! -
Bad little girl's comed here again!"

Last time 'at Ma act' thataway,
    I cried all to myse'f awhile
    Out on the steps, an' nen I smile,
    An' git my Doll all fix' in style,
An' go in where Ma's at, an' say:
    "Morning to you, Mommy dear!
    Where's that Bad little girl wuz here?
    Bad little girl's goned clean away,
    <...

James Whitcomb Riley

Igo And Ago

We're The Twins from Aunt Marinn's,
            Igo and Ago.
When Dad comes, the show begins! -
            Iram, coram, dago.

Dad he says he named us two
            Igo and Ago
For a poem he always knew,
            Iram, coram, dago.

Then he was a braw Scotchman -
            Igo and Ago. -
Now he's Scotch-Amer-i-can.
            Iram, coram, dago.

"Hey!" he cries, and pats his knee,
            "Igo and Ago,
My twin bairnies, ride wi' me -
            Iram, coram, dago!"



"Here," he laughs, "ye've each a leg,
            Igo and Ago,
Gleg as Tam O'Shanter's 'Meg'!
            Iram, coram, dago!"

Then we mount, with shrieks of mirth -
            Igo and Ago, -
The two glad...

James Whitcomb Riley

The Twinses.[1]

Two little children toddled up to me,
Their faces fair as faces well could be,
Roses and snow, but pale the roses were
Like flowers fainting for the lack of air.
Sad was the tender study which I gave
The winning creatures, both so sweet and grave,
Two beautiful young Saxons, scarce knee high!
As like as peas! Two Lilliputian men!
Immortal ere they knew it by the pen
Which waketh laughter or bedews the eye.
God bless you, little people! May His hand
Hold you within its hollow all your days!
Smooth all the rugged places, and your ways
Make long and pleasant in a fruitful land!

James Barron Hope

Joney

Had a hare-lip - Joney had:
Spiled his looks, and Joney knowed it:
Fellers tried to bore him, bad -
But ef ever he got mad,
He kep' still and never showed it.
'Druther have his mouth all pouted
And split up, and like it wuz,
Than the ones 'at laughed about it.
Purty is as purty does!

Had to listen ruther clos't
'Fore you knowed "what he wuz givin'
You; and yet, without no boast,
Joney he wuz jest the most
Entertainin' talker livin'!
Take the Scriptur's and run through 'em,
Might say, like a' auctioneer,
And 'ud argy and review 'em
'At wuz beautiful to hear!

Hare-lip and inpediment,
Both wuz bad, and both ag'in' him -
But the old folks where he went,
'Preared like, knowin' his intent,
'Scused his mouth fer what wuz in h...

James Whitcomb Riley

Knee Deep in June

1
Tell you what I like the best -
'Long about knee-deep in June,
'Bout the time strawberries melts
On the vine, some afternoon
Like to jes' git out and rest,
And not work at nothin' else!

2
Orchard's where I'd ruther be -
Needn't fence it in fer me!
Jes' the whole sky overhead,
And the whole airth underneath -
Sorto' so's a man kin breathe
Like he ort, and kindo' has
Elbow-room to keerlessly
Sprawl out len'thways on the grass
Where the shadders thick and soft
As the kivvers on the bed
Mother fixes in the loft
Allus, when they's company!

3
Jes' a-sorto' lazin' there -
S'lazy, 'at you peeks and peer
Through the wavin' leaves above,
Like a feller 'ats in love
And don't know it, ner don't keer!
Ever'thi...

James Whitcomb Riley

My Henry

He's jes' a great, big, awk'ard, hulkin'
Feller, - humped, and sort o' sulkin' -
Like, and ruther still-appearin' -
Kind-as-ef he wuzn't keerin'
    Whether school helt out er not -
    That's my Henry, to a dot!

Allus kind o' liked him - whether
Childern, er growed-up together!
Fifteen year' ago and better,
'Fore he ever knowed a letter,
    Run acrosst the little fool
    In my Primer-class at school.

When the Teacher wuzn't lookin',
He'd be th'owin' wads; er crookin'
Pins; er sprinklin' pepper, more'n
Likely, on the stove; er borin'
    Gimlet-holes up thue his desk -
    Nothin' that boy wouldn't resk!

But, somehow, as I was goin'
On to say, he seemed so knowin',
Other ways, and cute and cunnin' -
Al...

James Whitcomb Riley