Originally published on January 1, 2019 One Hundred and One Famous Poems (1929) Be Strong Be strong! We are not here to play, to dream, to drift; We have hard work to do, and loads to lift; Shun not the struggle– face it; ’tis God’s gift. Be strong! Say not, “The days are evil. Who’s
Continue reading →
“Halfway Down” by A.A. Milne
In response to a post which included A.A. Milne’s “Politeness” Andy replied, “I have occasionally written a poem for/about children.” My Least Favorite Color My favorite color is just like yours –A red or green or blue.And if you ask a hundred other kidsThey’ll answer that way, too. My least favorite color, though,is not a
Continue reading →
This is something Gilbert says in Chapter Twelve of Miss Missy’s School. Gilbert is quite fond of saying, “As someone once said,” but in the story he never tells us who said what. That’s one of the purposes of The Companion Book to Miss Missy’s School— to fill in the gaps. I am working on
Continue reading →
James Whitcomb Riley, The Book of Joyous Children (1902) Kindle, $0.00; Paperback, $6.99 Crappy old edition of The Book of Joyous Children. Bigfoodetc.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. I receive a small commission if you get to Amazon and buy something click through this site. Thanks!
“Lay away the story,—Though the theme is sweet,There’s a lack of something yet,Leaves it incomplete:—There’s a nameless yearning—Strangely undefined—For a story sweeter stillThan the written kind. Therefore read no longer—I’ve no heart to hearBut just something you make up,O my mother dear.—With your arms around me,Hold me, folded-eyed,—Only let your voice go on—I’ll be satisfied.”
Continue reading →
O the days gone by! O the days gone by!The apples in the orchard, and the pathway through the rye;The chirrup of the robin, and the whistle of the quailAs he piped across the meadows sweet as any nightingale;When the bloom was on the clover, and the blue was in the sky,And my happy heart
Continue reading →
The Book of Joyous Children, James Whitcomb Riley (1902) Kindle $0; Paperback $6.99; Hardcover $23.95 Amazon wants you to know that Bigfoodetc.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. I receive a small commission if you click and buy through this site. Once you click on a link you can buy anything and
Continue reading →
Our pal, Andy, who has been enjoying the recent boy talk, commented on yesterday’s “What is a Boy?”. It took all day, but this post finally reminded me of a poem I wrote years ago for a friend … Tiny Giant I had a tiny body onceso often rapt with joy.It turned the wheels of tiny
Continue reading →
Next to “The Girl I loved”– a book length poem– “How John Quit the Farm” is my very favorite James Whitcomb Riley poem. Enjoy! Riley Farm-Rhymes with Country Pictures (1905). Amazon tells me I have to disclose that I’m an Amazon Associate and I get a small (and thus far by small, I mean next
Continue reading →
“I have jest about decidedIt ‘ud keep a town-boy hoppin’Fer to work all winter, choppin’Fer a’ old fireplace, like I did!Lawz! them old times wuz contrairy!-Blame’ backbone o’ winter, ‘peared-likeWOULDN’T break!-and I wuz skeered-likeClean on into FEB’UARY!Nothin’ ever made me madderThan fer Pap to stomp in, layin’In a’ extra forestick, say’in’,“Groun’-hog’s out and seed his
Continue reading →
“When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s inthe shock,And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin’turkey-cock,And the clackin’ of the guineys, and the cluckin’ of thehens,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
Continue reading →
Tie the strings to my life, my Lord,Then I am ready to go!Just a look at the horses —Rapid! That will do! Put me in on the firmest side,So I shall never fall;For we must ride to the Judgment,And it’s partly down hill. But never I mind the bridges,And never I mind the sea;Held fast
Continue reading →
“It hain’t no use to grumble and complane;It’s jest as cheap and easy to rejoice.-When God sorts out the weather and sends rain,W’y, rain’s my choice.Men ginerly, to all intents-Although they’re apt to grumble some-Puts most theyr trust in Providence,And takes things as they come-That is, the commonalityOf men that’s lived as long as meHas
Continue reading →
Put up my lute!What of—my Music!Since the sole ear I cared to charm—Passive—as Granite—laps My Music—Sobbing—will suit—as well as psalm! Would but the “Memnon” of the Desert—Teach me the strainThat vanquished Him—When He—surrendered to the Sunrise—Maybe—that—would awaken—them! —Emily Dickinson (1830-1886; written 1861, published 1935) The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson Only $1.99 on Kindle!
Over the fence—Strawberries—grow—Over the fence—I could climb—if I tried, I know—Berries are nice! But—if I stained my Apron—God would certainly scold!Oh, dear,—I guess if He were a Boy—He’d—climb—if He could! —Emily Dickinson (1830-1886; written 1861, published 1945) The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
“The orchard lands of Long Ago!O drowsy winds, awake, and blowThe snowy blossoms back to me,And all the buds that used to be!Blow back along the grassy waysOf truant feet, and lift the hazeOf happy summer from the treesThat trail their tresses in the seasOf grain that float and overflowThe orchard lands of Long Ago!Blow
Continue reading →
She sweeps with many-colored Brooms–And leaves the Shreds behind–Oh, Housewife in the Evening West–Come back, and dust the pond! You dropped a Purple Ravelling in–You dropped an Amber thread–And now you’ve littered all the EastWith Duds of Emerald! And still she plies her spotted Brooms,And still the Aprons fly,Till Brooms fade softly into stars–And then
Continue reading →
Safe in their Alabaster Chambers—Untouched by MorningAnd untouched by Noon—Sleep the meek members of the Resurrection—Rafter of satin,And Roof of stone. Light laughs the breezeIn her Castle above them—Babbles the Bee in a stolid Ear,Pipe the Sweet Birds in ignorant cadence—Ah, what sagacity perished here! —Emily Dickinson (1830-1886; 1959 version, published 1862) Safe in their Alabaster
Continue reading →
“The old farm-home is Mother’s yet and mine,And filled it is with plenty and to spare,-But we are lonely here in life’s decline,Though fortune smiles around us everywhere:We look across the goldOf the harvests, as of old-The corn, the fragrant clover, and the hayBut most we turn our gaze,As with eyes of other days,To the
Continue reading →
{"id":null,"mode":"button","open_style":"in_modal","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":1000,"top_media_type":"featured_image","featured_image_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Whats-happening-copy-4-1.jpg","featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"All current contributions go toward redesigning the cover, and publishing an eBook of Miss Missy's School.","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Tip!","payment_request_label":"Big Food, Big Garden, Big Life","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"Big Food, Big Garden, Big Life","form_subtitle":"All contributions go toward cover redesign and eBook publication of Miss Missy's School: Book I A Pack of Farm Dogs Starts a School","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you for your help and encouragement!","payment_confirmation_title":"Big Food, Big Garden, Big Life","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
{"date_format":"F j, Y","time_format":"g:i a","wordpress_permalink_only":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/tag\/poetry\/page\/2\/","all_default_visual_states":"inherit","modal_visual_state":false,"user_is_logged_in":false,"stripe_api_key":"pk_live_51H1In9KDLfKHlvGgsliZe4efNchBVkhUvpkfy3DJTf5J6Kumgyzt5CgC0gY8E4J6dsAemyUcNLRf68pdCdkj8ZWn0021C5X4gj","stripe_account_country_code":"US","setup_link":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-admin\/admin.php?page=tip-jar-wp&mpwpadmin1=welcome&mpwpadmin_lightbox=do_wizard_health_check","close_button_url":"https:\/\/www.bigfoodetc.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/closebtn.png"}
