Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Hoosier Poet

The phrase "Noon-time, June-time, down around the river" has been in my head all week. It's from the poem by James Whitcomb Riley, known as the "Hoosier Poet". Hoosier is a term used to describe those of us from the state of Indiana. The word is derived from a pioneer days greeting. When approaching a home, you shouted, "Hello, the cabin!" to avoid being shot. The inhabitants would then shout back, "Who'sh 'ere?" Hence, over time the slurring became "hoosier".

At the end of the nineteenth century, when he was at the height of his career, James Whitcomb Riley was the most popular poet in America. Few literary figures have ever become so popular in their own lifetime. His poetry anthologies were best sellers and his public live poetry readings were sellouts.

As a little girl in Indiana, I fondly remember sitting in the big green vinyl covered rocker, on my grandmother's lap, listening to her read such poems to me as Little Orphan Annie, The Raggedy Man and When the Frost is on the Pumpkin. Despite dismissals by intellectuals, Riley has often been referred to as the Charles Dickens of the Midwest. Of his thousand poems, over half of them are charmingly written in the dialect of the day. I always keep my eye out for volumes of his vintage poetry, published by Bobbs-Merrill, which are often graced by lovely illustrations by Howard Chandler Christy.


vintage book from Willow's collection

30 comments:

  1. He is unfamiliar to me. The illustration on that book cover is charming. I can see why you keep your eye out for copies...

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  2. I'm beginning to believe intellectuals wouldn't know good poetry if it bit them. Thanks for the clarification on the origins of the term, Hoosier. I often wondered where it came from. Intellectuals didn't think much of Billy Collins either but he plays to full houses at all of his readings.

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  3. I love the book cover illustration!

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  4. Pappy, I know, and I absolutely love Billy Collins. He is so popular because we can personally connect with his poetry.

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  5. Riley poems...one of my favorite childhood memories! :) I can still recite the entire Lil Orphan Annie!

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  6. Willow, interesting post....I love the explanation of the term Hoosier... how fun to have in your collection wonderful old books such as this....

    The rose on your sidebar..gorgeous!!

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  7. I love the cover in that last image! I'll have to look him up--I'm not familiar with him (or perhaps I am, but didn't realize he was the author!) Thanks for the notes on him. I have so many books of poetry, and I took prosody classes while working on my master's, and know first-hand how hard it is to make a good poem...

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  8. I had not heard this explanation before but then I didn't know you couldn't set on a brier but could a buckeye.

    A new way for me
    Better Blog Writing

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  9. How is it that I was an English major and missed out on him? Always more to read, always more to learn about!

    As a side note, for breakfast today I ate turkey bacon, tea, and toast with plum butter. What a treat!

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  10. MG, I'm so glad you like the plum butter! I had some this morning, too. Yum.

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  11. I’m perfectly happy with that explanation of the term “Hoosier”, and I will believe that it is true until the day I die.

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  12. Betsy, I know, I used to be really enthralled with the illustration of those nine little goblins!

    DeeDee, thank you! They are called Eden and are my very fave.

    Abe, now that is a phrase I've never heard!! Briar and buckeye, huh? I'm writing that one down!

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  13. Bobbs-Merrill .. oh thank you Willow .. the other week I was desperately trying to remember the name/publisher behind a series of books I read in elementry school.. they were biographies .. men and women who played roles in making the beginnings of this country happen ... and the covers were all this robin's egg blue ... I could 'see' the books but not the author or publisher .. Bobbs-Merrill!!! So now I must remember who was I telling about these books .. you would recall you would you? Kidding, I am kidding only about if you know who ....

    :-Daryl

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  14. Daryl, okay I have my fingers pressed against my temples...oohhmm...sorry...
    nothing's coming to mind.

    Happy to have helped you out with Bobbs-Merrill! :)

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  15. Getting back to the point of reading or owning "A Place to Live." I am not sure everyone will be interested in it but it is, basically, the history of the small village where I was born. By history I mean that it contains the names of everyone who ever lived there or worked there. And the names of the stores and shops and all kinds of stuff most people are not interested in. Well, some are. Thanks for getting it. I hope you are satisfied when it comes.

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  16. Love the cover!! We will have to familiarize ourselves with his work!! Great post!

    blessings,
    kari & kijsa

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  17. VEry interesting. I learn something new every day!

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  18. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing it...and I always wondered at the roots of 'Hoosier'.

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  19. Willow, I'm also a fellow Hoosier. As a little girl we went on a field trip to his home in Indianapolis. It was so warm and inviting. There was lots of dark, rich woods and so many of his personal belongings all around. It was one of my favorite school memories. I felt very important being in such a popular poet's home. I wonder if school children still visit there. I hope so.

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  20. "Louis", loving trivia like this, was very happy to learn the origin of the term 'Hoosier'. "Louis" had been told that the origin of 'Hoosier' was 'unknown'. Well, the people telling "Louis" that neglected to check in at Willow Manor!

    What "Louis" wishes he could have captured in his image of the dance between the moon and the fog at midnight is that the wind was making the fog swirl very fast. The still shot just doesn't capture the motion. The swirling fog around the sodium vapor lights really made it look like a fire. It was a fantastic scene that "Louis" couldn't adequately capture.

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  21. Nanatrish, I have visited the Riley house in Greenfield, but not the home in Indy. I would enjoy that!

    Louis, I would have liked to have seen that swirling fog. It must have looked very haunting and mysterious.

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  22. Willow, you be da cult leader!

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  23. My younger son and daughter loved hearing me read Little Orphan Annie! Especially the refrain: "and the goblins will get ya if ya don't watch out!"

    Of course I love knowing where the term hoosier comes from and most of all I am in love with that picture of the poet...wow!

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  24. Stevie, it's so fun to know someone else out there is familiar with his poetry! Isn't that the greatest picture of Riley? I thought it was amazing.

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  25. My mother used to read Mr. Riley to me. I especially remember "The Raggedy Man". Thanks for the reminder!

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  26. Learn something new every day. Never knew that about the Hoosier. Love the illustration as well. I am intrigued by poets of all types. Their insights and talent, which I suppose is one and the same.... Kayce

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  27. THANK YOU for explaining the meaning of Hoosier. That one's always baffled me. I should've known it had a colorful history.

    I know of Riley but haven't read much of him. The book cover is charming and Mr. Riley looks the picture of intensity.

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  28. Well there are some academics who love to knock Dickens too... the rotters!

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  29. Willow, was glad I found your post. I was just given a signed handwritten poem dated 1890 from this wonderful poet. I'm just learning more and more about him. Thank you.

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  30. IRS, I am totally envious of your wonderful treasure! I'm glad you enjoyed my post.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)