Who is James Whitcomb Riley

James Whitcomb Riley (October 7, 1849 – July 22, 1916) was an American writer, poet, and best-selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the "Hoosier Poet" and "Children's Poet" for his dialect works and his children's poetry. His poems tend to be humorous or sentimental. Of the approximately 1,000 poems Riley wrote, the majority are in dialect. His famous works include "Little Orphant Annie" and "The Raggedy Man".

Riley began his career writing verses as a sign maker and submitting poetry to newspapers. Thanks in part to poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's endorsement, he eventually earned successive jobs at Indiana newspaper publishers during the late 1870s. He gradually rose to prominence during the 1880s through his poetry reading tours. He traveled a touring circuit ...
Read Full Biography of James Whitcomb Riley


James Whitcomb Riley Poems

  • Time 2
    Wait for the morning! Ah! We wait indeed
    For daylight, we who toss about through stress
    Of vacant-armed desires and emptiness
    Of all the warm, warm touches that we need, ...
  • The Penalty Of Genius
    "When little 'Pollus Morton he's
    A-go' to speak a piece, w'y, nen
    The Teacher smiles an' says 'at she's
    Most proud, of all her little men ...
  • Song - Subtlety
    [R.B.]


    Whilst little Paul, convalescing, was staying ...
  • By Any Other Name
    First the teacher called the roll,
    Clos't to the beginnin',
    "Addeliney Bowersox!"
    Set the school a-grinnin'. ...
  • A Session With Uncle Sidney - Ii - Uncle Brightens Up
    Uncle he says 'at 'way down in the sea
    Ever'thing's ist like it used to be: -
    He says they's mermaids, an' mermens, too,
    An' little merchildern, like me an' you - ...
Read All Poems


Top 10 most used topics by James Whitcomb Riley

Long 161 Face 156 Night 139 Away 135 Sweet 135 Love 132 I Love You 132 Good 125 Heart 123 Glad 120


James Whitcomb Riley Quotes

Read All Quotes


Comments about James Whitcomb Riley

Literateindy: while the heart beats young, by james whitcomb riley. illustrations by ethel franklin betts bains (indianapolis museum of art)
Melaniejaxn: o make the world a friendly place one must show it a friendly face. ~ james whitcomb riley
Scanticantiques: antique american print of famous children's author james whitcomb riley! poet!
Wfyinews: members of the midtown neighborhoods around james whitcomb riley school 43 are raising concern about its future.
Marikka_1973: “the most essential factor is persistence - the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the inevitability of discouragement.” -james whitcomb riley
Read All Comments


Write your comment about James Whitcomb Riley


Poem of the day

Ernest Dowson Poem
The Garden Of Shadow
 by Ernest Dowson

Love heeds no more the sighing of the wind
Against the perfect flowers: thy garden's close
Is grown a wilderness, where none shall find
One strayed, last petal of one last year's rose.

O bright, bright hair! O mouth like a ripe fruit!
Can famine be so nigh to harvesting?
Love, that was songful, with a broken lute
...

Read complete poem

Popular Poets