They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere...

Anyone else out there a 'sweater weather' girl?  I admit it--I love autumn and all the food and celebrations that go with the season.  Chunky sweaters, homemade breads, a big pot of soup, fireplaces crackling, warm socks on chilly nights, flannel pajamas and best of all....pumpkin pie.  I love pumpkin pie.  It's my favorite dessert, and I used to ask for pumpkin pie instead of a birthday cake!  Fortunately, my mother is the world's best pie maker, so pies graced our table frequently.  I made two pies this past Sunday, and guess what I had for breakfast this morning?  Hazelnut coffee and pumpkin pie....hello, autumn! 

I've been waiting for the perfect fall day to post one of my favorite poems by Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley.  I first learned this poem in Mrs. Gilman's third grade reading class and I've loved it ever since.  Poetry serves so many purposes--it can calm us, it can inspire us, motivate us, and touch our souls, but sometimes poetry exists just to make us smile and rejoice in another day.  I hope you enjoy the poem, and your day!

When the Frost is on the Punkin

James Whitcomb Riley

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!