This poem was written by a local poet, James Ball Naylor. I thought some of you might enjoy it.

MY TIME ‘O YEAR

When I start my plow a runnin’ in the black and meller ground, An’ the land is growin’ smaller that my horse tramps around; When the white-oak buds a’ openin’ and the grass a’ growin’ green, Makes a feller think of summer as he gazes on the scene; When the chipmunk runs and chatters, ‘cause the plow his den has torn, An’ the crows are loudly scoldin’ ‘bout the plantin’ of the corn, When the blue bird hollers out a rail an’ starts to build a nest, Then I think that that’s the time ‘o year I kind o’ like the best.

But it’s mighty nice, I tell you, when the summer time is here, With the wheat a’ growin’ yeller, and the harvest drawin’ near; With the timothy in blossom, an’ the hayin’ just at hand, An’ the mother quail a’ callin’ to her peepin’ little band. Oh, I like to watch the wooly clouds a’ floatin’ far away, As I’m ridin’ on the mower or rakin’ up the hay! Then I somehow seem acquainted with each bird an’ bumblebee, An’ I think the golden summer is the time o’ year for me.

Then the autumn comes in splendor, with its russet an’ its gold, With the mornin’s sharp an' frosty an’ the nights a’ growin’ cold, With the downy seeds a’ flyin’, by the rustlin’ breezes borne, An’ the Horn of Plenty pourin’ out the red and yellow corn; When the walnuts an’ the butternuts is droppin’ from the trees, An’ the apples in the orchard smile as purty as you please; Then I raise my heart in thankfulness to Him what reigns above, An’ I feel that fruitful autumn is the time o’ year I love.

Winter comes to wind the year up with its sleigh rides an’ its snow – In the evenin’ eatin’ apples an’ a’ poppin’ corn, you know; Drinkin’ cider from the cellar, as we set around the fire, Crackin’ nuts an’ tellin’ stories ‘til it’s time we must retire. Oh, I ruther think the time o’ year that suits me best of all Ain’t the spring nor roastin’ summer, not ag’in, the charmin’ fall, But it’s jest the jolly winter, when a feller gets to rest, That I kind o’ hanker after an’ I’m sure I like the best!

This poem was published in the Ohio State Journal in 1891. It paints such a clear picture for me, and I'm not much of a poetry fan. I like how 110 years later, life here in southeast Ohio can be much the same as then.

-- Lori in SE Ohio (klnprice@yahoo.com), March 10, 2001

Answers

Lori: That is absolutely great! I've never heard that one. The rhythym of it makes me think of the old poem about Little Orphan Annie. Does anybody remember that spooky one - "and the goblins 'll get cha if ya don't watch out!" It was a cute one; but this one is really great! Thank you for sharing it! Cynthia

-- Cynthia Speer (farmsteader@gvtel.com), March 10, 2001.

Loved it..thank you! It has been a tradition in our family for six generations that the children learn Little Orphan Annie by heart..don't know why, but it is so much fun when we all get together and from ages 97 to 5, everybody says a line.God bless.

-- Lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), March 10, 2001.