Poetry: Little Orphan Annie

Little Orphan Annie

Little Orphan Annie's come to our house to stay,
And wash the cups and saucers up, and brush the crumbs away,
And shoo the chickens off the porch and dust the hearth and sweep,
And make the fire, and bake the bread, and earn her board and keep;
And all us other children, when the supper things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire and has the mostest fun
A-listenin' to the witch tales that Annie tells about,
And the Gobble-uns that gits you if you don't watch out!

Once they was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers--
And when he went to bed at night, away upstairs,
His mammy heard him holler and his daddy heard him bawl,
And when they turned the kivvers down, he wasn't there at all!
And they seeked him in the rafter room, and cubby hole and press,
And seeked him up the chimney flue, and everywheres, I guess;
But all they ever found was just his pants and round about!
And the Gobble-uns'll git you if you don't watch out!

And one time a little girl would always laugh and grin,
And make fun of everyone, and all her blood and kin;
And once when they was company and old folks was there,
She mocked them and shocked them and said she didn't care!
And just as she kicked her heels, and turnt to run and hide,
They was two great big Black Things a-standin'by her side,
And they snatched her through the ceiling
'fore she knowed what she's about!
And the Gobble-uns'll git you if you don't watch out!

And little Orphan Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
And the lamp wick sputters, and the wind goes woo-oo!
And you hear the crickets quit and the moon is gray,
And the lightning bugs in dew is all squenched away--
You better mind your parents, and your teachers fond and dear,
And cherish them that loves you, and dry the orphan's tear,
And help the poor and needy one that cluster all about,
Or the Gobble-uns'll git you if you don't watch out!

by James Whitcomb Riley


This is a poem we (my sisters and I) all memorized for elementary school “way back when”. Can you still recite it?

5 comments:

  1. My mom used to recite this one to me when I was little. And she would sing me the song "Poor Babes in the Woods." The only poem I memorized in my childhood I can still remember most of is "My Shadow."

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  2. THANKS FOR REMINDING ME ABOUT THIS.. MY OLDEST BROTHER'S WIFE, PRISSY, TAUGHT THAT TO PEGGY,GIGGY AND ME BACK IN 1941..SHE HAD SOME OF THE COOLEST STUFF TO TEACH US BACK WHEN!! SHE IS THE ONE THAT CAME FROM THE GERMAN "KRUPP" FAMILY..AND WAS A NURSE..NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT SHE REMINDED ME OF THE FLOWER CHILDREN WHO JUST WANTED TO HAVE FUN WHEN SHE WASN'T WORKING..
    LOVE YA MA

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  3. I recited this poem in 6th grade in front of my class and got the highest grade, I think a 98 or 99. However, I remember it with devil in it instead of Goblins. What's up with that???
    Karen (sister)

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  4. Hey sis,

    I remember you practicing that so many years ago. You did a great job and it always gave me the chills.

    You are right. I was wondering what was different. When we recited it, it was

    "or the devil is gonna git you if you don't watch out"

    There may be different versions out there and I just found this one. Hmmm! Thanks for pointing that out.

    Robin

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  5. Karen: I've been looking for this poem (song) for a long time. We sang the words, way back in the 40's when I was in grade school, but I can only remember a few notes.

    Rosie

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