76 Quotes by James Whitcomb Riley

Where are they?--the friends of my childhood enchanted-- / The clear, laughing eyes looking back in my own, / And the warm, chubby fingers my palms have so wanted, / As when we raced over / Pink pastures of clover, / And mocked the quail's whir and the bumblebee's drone? / Have the breezes of time blown their blossomy faces / Forever adrift down the years that are flown? / Am I never to see them romp back to their places, / Where over the meadow, / In sunshine and shadow, / The meadow-larks trill, and the bumblebees drone?

I dream to-day, o'er a purple stainOf bloom on a withered stalk / Pelted down by the autumn rain / In the dust of the garden-walk,That an Angel-rose in the world to beWill hide in the leaves in wait for me.

The laziest of all days— / To get up any time— or sleep—/ Or just lay around and watch the haze / A dancin' cross the wheat and keep / My pipe a-govern leisurely.

When first I loved, in the long ago, / And held your hand as I told you so-- / Pressed and caressed it and gave it a kiss / And said 'I could die for a hand like this!

Midst of wealth of facts and fancies / That our memory may recall / Thus the old-school day romances / Are the dearest after all! / When some sweet thought revises / The half-forgotten tune / That opened 'exercises' / On 'Friday afternoon.'

Midst of wealth of facts and fancies / That our memories may recall, / Thus the old-school-day romances / Are the dearest after all!— / When some sweet thought revises / The half-forgotten tune / That opened "Exercises,' / On Friday afternoon.

Singing southward-flying birds down to us, and afterward. Singing them to flight again; Singing blushes to the cheeks.

All us other children, when the supper-things is done / We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun / A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,

One naked star has waded through the purple shallows of the night, and faltering as falls the dew it drips its misty light.