Little Jack Janitor Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCDEE FFGGHHII D EEJKLLMMN OOGG PP GG GQQLLP RR SSTTG CCG G EEG AA PP UUVWGGX GGYYZZAAA2A2ZZ B2B2AAZZ C2 AG D2D2 P ZZE2 F2F2 AAG2 EH2H2I2 G J2J2K2EP PL2L2J2 M2N2ZZO2O2P2 AAAAC2C2 Q2Q2 Q2Q2AAQ2Q2R2 GG

And there in that ripe Summer night once moreA
A wintry coolness through the open doorA
And window seemed to touch each glowing faceB
Refreshingly and for a fleeting spaceB
The quickened fancy through the fragrant airC
Saw snowflakes whirling where the roseleaves wereD
And sounds of veriest jingling bells againE
Were heard in tinkling spoons and glasses thenE
-
Thus Uncle Mart's old poem sounded youngF
And crisp and fresh and clear as when first sungF
Away back in the wakening of SpringG
When his rhyme and the robin chorusingG
Rumored in duo fanfare of the soonH
Invading johnny jump ups with platoonH
On platoon of sweet williams marshaled fineI
To bloomed blarings of the trumpet vineI
-
The poet turned to whisperingly conferD
A moment with 'The Noted Traveler '-
Then left the room tripped up the stairs and thenE
An instant later reappeared againE
Bearing a little lacquered box or chestJ
Which as all marked with curious interestK
He gave to the old Traveler who inL
One hand upheld it pulling back his thinL
Black lustre coat sleeves saying he had sentM
Up for his 'Magic Box ' and that he meantM
To test it there especially to showN
The Children 'It is empty now you know '-
He humped it with his knuckles so they heardO
The hollow sound 'But lest it be inferredO
It is not really empty I will askG
Little Jack Janitor whose pleasant taskG
It is to keep it ship shape '-
-
Then he triedP
And rapped the little drawer in the sideP
And called out sharply 'Are you in there Jack '-
And then a little squeaky voice came backG
' Of course I'm in here ain't you got the keyG
Turned on me '-
-
Then the Traveler leisurelyG
Felt through his pockets and at last took outQ
The smallest key they ever heard aboutQ
It wasn't any longer than a pinL
And this at last he managed to fit inL
The little keyhole turned it and then criedP
'Is everything swept out clean there inside '-
' Open the drawer and see Don't talk to muchR
Or else ' the little voice squeaked ' talk in DutchR
You age me asking questions '-
-
Then the manS
Looked hurt so that the little folks beganS
To feel so sorry for him he put downT
His face against the box and had to frownT
'Come sir ' he called 'no impudence to meG
You've swept out clean '-
-
' Open the drawer and see '-
And so he drew the drawer out Nothing thereC
But just the empty drawer stark and bareC
He shoved it back again with a shark clickG
-
' Ouch ' yelled the little voice ' un snap it quickG
You've got my nose pinched in the crack '-
-
And thenE
The frightened man drew out the drawer againE
The little voice exclaiming ' Jeemi neeG
Say what you want but please don't murder me '-
-
'Well then ' the man said as he closed the drawerA
With care 'I want some cotton batting forA
My supper Have you got it '-
-
And insideP
All muffled like the little voice repliedP
' Open the drawer and see '-
-
And sure enoughU
He drew it out filled with the cotton stuffU
He then asked for a candle to be broughtV
And held for him and tuft by tuft he caughtW
And lit the cotton and while blazing tookG
It in his mouth and ate it with a lookG
Of purest satisfactionX
-
'Now ' said heG
'I've eaten the drawer empty let me seeG
What this is in my mouth ' And with both handsY
He began drawing from his lips long strandsY
Of narrow silken ribbons every hueZ
And tint and crisp they were and bright and newZ
As if just purchased at some Fancy StoreA
'And now Bub bring your cap ' he said 'beforeA
Something might happen ' And he stuffed the capA2
Full of the ribbons ' There my little chapA2
Hold tight to them ' he said 'and take them toZ
The ladies there for they know what to doZ
With all such rainbow finery '-
-
He smiledB2
Half sadly as it seemed to see the childB2
Open his cap first to his mother ThereA
Was not a ribbon in it anywhereA
' Jack Janitor ' the man said sternly throughZ
The Magic Box 'Jack Janitor did youZ
Conceal those ribbons anywhere '-
-
' Well yes '-
The little voice piped ' but you'd never guessC2
The place I hid 'em if you'd guess a year '-
-
'Well won't you tell me '-
-
' Not until you clearA
Your mean old conscience ' said the voice ' and makeG
Me first do something for the Children's sake '-
-
'Well then fill up the drawer ' the Traveler saidD2
'With whitest white on earth and reddest redD2
Your terms accepted Are you satisfied '-
-
' Open the drawer and see ' the voice repliedP
-
' Why bless my soul ' the man said as he drewZ
The contents of the drawer into viewZ
'It's level full of candy Pass it 'roundE2
Jack Janitor shan't steal that I'll be bound '-
He raised and crunched a stick of it and smackedF2
His lips 'Yes that is candy for a factF2
And it's all yours '-
-
And how the children thereA
Lit into it O never anywhereA
Was such a feast of sweetnessG2
-
'And now then '-
The man said as the empty drawer againE
Slid to its place he bending over itH2
'Now then Jack Janitor before we quitH2
Our entertainment for the evening tellI2
Us where you hid the ribbons can't you '-
-
' Well '-
The squeaky little voice drawled sleepilyG
' Under your old hat maybe Look and see '-
-
All carefully the man took off his hatJ2
But there was not a ribbon under thatJ2
He shook his heavy hair and all in vainK2
The old white hat then put it on againE
'Now tell me honest Jack where did you hideP
The ribbons '-
-
' Under your hat ' the voice repliedP
' Mind I said 'under' and not 'in' it Won'tL2
You ever take the hint on earth or don'tL2
You want to show folks where the ribbons atJ2
Law but I'm sleepy Under unner your hat '-
-
Again the old man carefully took offM2
The empty hat with an embarrassed coughN2
Saying all gravely to the children 'YouZ
Must promise not to laugh you'll all want toZ
When you see where Jack Janitor has daredO2
To hide those ribbons when he might have sparedO2
My feelings But no matter Know the worstP2
Here are the ribbons as I feared at first '-
And quick as snap of thumb and finger thereA
The old man's head had not a sign of hairA
And in his lap a wig of iron grayA
Lay stuffed with all that glittering arrayA
Of ribbons 'Take 'em to the ladies YesC2
Good night to everybody and God blessC2
The Children '-
-
In a whisper no one missedQ2
The Hired Man yawned 'He's a vantrilloquist'Q2
-
-
-
So gloried all the night Each trundle bedQ2
And pallet was enchanted each child headQ2
Was packed with happy dreams And long beforeA
The dawn's first far off rooster crowed the snoreA
Of Uncle Mart was stilled as round him pressedQ2
The bare arms of the wakeful little guestQ2
That he had carried home with himR2
-
'I think '-
An awed voice said ' No I don't want a dwinkG
Lay still I think 'The Noted Traveler' heG
'S the inscrutibul est man I ever see '-

James Whitcomb Riley



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Little Jack Janitor poem by James Whitcomb Riley


 
Best Poems of James Whitcomb Riley

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 11 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets