Skip to content
1849–1916

DOWN AROUND THE RIVER.

James Whitcomb Riley

Noon-time and June-time, down around the river! Have to furse with‘ Lizey Ann — but lawzy! I fergive her! Drives me off the place, and says‘ at all‘ at she's a-wishin’, Land o’ gracious! time'll come I'll git enough o’ fishin’!

Little Dave, a-choppin’ wood, never‘ pears to notice; Do n't know where she's hid his hat, er keerin’ where his coat is,— Specalatin’, more‘ n like, he haint a-goin’ to mind me, And guessin’ where, say twelve o'clock, a feller'd likely find me.

Noon-time and June-time, down around the river! Clean out o’ sight o’ home, and skulkin’ under kivver Of the sycamores, jack-oaks, and swamp-ash and ellum — Idies all so jumbled up, you kin hardly tell‘ em!—

Tired, you know, but lovin’ it, and smilin’ jest to think‘ at Any sweeter tiredness you'd fairly want to drink it. Tired o’ fishin’ — tired o’ fun — line out slack and slacker — All you want in all the world's a little more tobacker!

Hungry, but a-hidin’ it, er jes’ a-not a-keerin': - Kingfisher gittin’ up and skootin’ out o’ hearin’; Snipes on the t'other side, where the County Ditch is, Wadin’ up and down the aidge like they'd rolled their britches!

Old turkle on the root kindo-sorto drappin’ Intoo th’ worter like he do n't know how it happen! Worter, shade and all so mixed, do n't know which you'd orter Say, th’ worter in the shadder — shadder in the worter!

Somebody hollerin’ —‘ way around the bend in Upper Fork — where yer eye kin jes’ ketch the endin’ Of the shiney wedge o’ wake some muss-rat's a-makin’ With that pesky nose o’ his! Then a sniff o’ bacon,

Corn-bread and‘ dock-greens — and little Dave a-shinnin’ ‘ Crost the rocks and mussel-shells, a-limpin’ and a-grinnin’, With yer dinner far ye, and a blessin’ from the giver. Noon-time and June-time down around the river!

Cookies on Poetry Cove

We use cookies to remember your language preference and — only with your consent — to learn how Poetry Cove is used. You can change your mind any time.
DOWN AROUND THE RIVER. · James Whitcomb Riley · Poetry Cove