Spring in Indiana: James Whitcomb Riley

If you ever wandered what spring is like in Indiana, then reading "The First Bluebird", by James Whitcomb Riley will nail it on the head for you! The Hoosier Poet knew the place that he wrote about, as every good poet should. Riley is our current Poem-A-Day poet and we are thoroughly enjoying his style and subject matter. It's as if he wrote these poems just for us! I can almost hear my own Grandfather's voice in the Indiana vernacular of old.

The First Bluebird
by James Whitcomb Riley

Jest rain and snow! and rain again!

And dribble! drip! and blow!

Then snow! and thaw! and slush! and then

Some more rain and snow!

This morning I was'most afeard

To wake upwhen, I jing!

I seen the sun shine out and heerd

The first bluebird of Spring!

Mother she'd raised the winder some;

And in acrost the orchurd come,

Soft as a angel's wing,

A breezy, treesy, beesy hum,

Too sweet fer anything!

The winter's shroud was rent a-part

The sun bust forth in glee,

And when that bluebird sung, my hart

Hopped out o' bed with me!