Sunday, October 7, 2007

When The Frost Is On The Punkin

For more Folk Art Fancies being offered tonight and in the week to follow,
please visit my website.
The following poem was the inspiration for my glass glittered pumpkins.
~*~

When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here--
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock--
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries--kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below--the clover over-head!--
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin' 's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...
I don't know how to tell it--but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me--
I'd want to 'commodate 'em--all the whole-indurin' flock--
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)

8 comments:

  1. I just love that poem ... and lady you know I LOVE my pumpkins, too. Did I tell you that? LOL!

    I hope you had a good weekend and have a wonderful week ahead. :o)

    xo
    Dana

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love this poem, and pumpkins too. Fall is just the best time of year.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful pumpkins and poem Lana! And by your webpage, it looks like others thought the same way!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love your pumpkins! Love your pumpkins! Each year I drool over them. Thanks for sharing the poem as well; one of my favorites.
    Blondie

    ReplyDelete
  5. What beautiful pumpkins!!! Thanks for sharing the poem!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I absolutely adore these pumpkins Lana, there simply beautiful!!

    Thanks so much for sharing the lovely poem! :)

    Justine

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love that poem, it's a favorite! Fall, isn't it just the best time of year?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I LOVE the pumpkins..I have TWO sets!!yummy..Deena

    ReplyDelete