"When the Frost is On the Punkin"

[@hfranklin2009]

I knew Kent Rizley; Kent was a friend of mine. We graduated together from Sayre High School, Sayre, Oklahoma, in 1962. He died a few years ago and each year I post this video on Facebook as it cools down from the summer heat as a way of helping him keep his pledge to his father.

[@esgomez5031]

A wonderful poem, and tribute to your Dad!....Bless.

[@bibimaizoon40]

I come back here every year when the frost is indeed on the punkin to hear your beloved telling of this wonderful old poem...it’s been several years now by my count...Thank you~Sir.

[@lpatterson1968]

That was done beautifully! Thank you so much! My mom used to read us James Whitcomb Riley poems. She read them in different seasons little orphat Annie at Halloween time and the frost on the pumpkin late fall as well the raggedy man that tge happy little cripple all just great . Thanks again for the poems and the memories

[@KyleCorwith]

We just read this poem in our home school and this is an amazing presentation of the work. We loved it! Thank you so much for allowing others to see his recitation. Don't take it off! We are sorry that Kent Risley is no longer here. Blessings!

[@edwardbond3641]

This brought tears to my eyes! My granny would recite this poem to me as a child every fall, just recently I sent a copy of it to my own daughter who is now married and living all the way across the country in California. I asked her if she remembered me reciting it to her as a child. Great memories! Thanks so much !

[@melissalinebaugh2669]

You could be on any stage on this planet with a delivery like that. We had our first frost this morning and a friend sent me this link. What a delight and boon to my heart.

[@Ilikeit05]

I come here every year to enjoy this several times. This is such a great poem! I enjoy this video so much! Thank you!!

[@Jbudak80]

Growing up in Indiana, I always had a soft spot for autumn time. Even though this poem is very very old, it still rings true for me, perfectly capturing that first frost morning of fall. I remember memorizing it in 4th grade and I've never forgotten it. Thank you for this!

[@regina_smith]

im in fourth grade and we are saying it for winter wonderland

[@alierakieron]

I come by this page every year to hear this.

[@jehovahshoneybee4881]

Wonderful! Just wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing it with this group of strangers 🙂

[@KristenMSchwartz]

my children and I happened upon this poem. we are grateful for this recitation of this wonderful poem. thank you sir!

[@Peptalkmom]

Best version ever. Thank you for sharing your soul.

[@bobm6326]

Thank Sir for this gift on an autumn morning when the Frost is on the pumpkin!

[@hfranklin2009]

Again, I knew Kent Rizley, Kent Rizley was a friend of mine, we graduated from Sayre High School in Sayre, Oklahoma back in 1962. Kent died some years ago. I post this each year to keep his memory alive and to help him fulfill his promise to his dad, a great and good man.

[@marbelroy6944]

I love his version Thank You this is such a sweet story make sure you like this. This is life, and God is with us till the end. God bless you all

[@bibimaizoon40]

My very favorite video of all time...Every autumn I listen to you and have my family listen as well! Thank you Sir for an outstanding performance!

[@stevecaputa7601]

Your recitation of this poem helped my 7th grade daughter to become more interested in her assignment, she giggled or smiled the whole time - We appreciate you!

[@montycraig5659]

I heard this performed by you 3 or 4 years ago, and I believe it is one of the true treasures to be found on You Tube! Thank you.

[@takinglifebythelens]

What a wonderful story and legacy between you and your father! I hope you continue this tradition for many, many years to come--God Bless you sir!

[@davemowrey7668]

The best rendition I have ever heard! My now-gone family members loved JWR's poetry, as most grew up not far from his hometown. Thank you! We are sharing this for the grands.

[@MultiStarr7]

Thank you for making your video interpretation of this lovely poem. Your expression and love is felt as you recite each line. Please heed your father's words to continue reciting it each Fall, as it has blessed me immensely! : )

[@blueskymut]

I’ve spent my entire life in Southern California, and have often heard the lament of lack of seasons change in this region. Thanks to you I believe I’ve just experienced the feeling of a mid-western fall... here in San Diego in July. Beautiful work.

[@Melshed]

Thank you for sharing your story and the poem. Your recitation of it makes it come to life.

[@BasicLibrarian]

Great recitation. You bring the poem to life.

[@staylopictures]

I never liked that poem on paper, but hearing you do it gives it real life. Nice work.

[@acurf]

I really enjoyed this! Not just a poetry recitation, but the creation of a character.

[@bethanyscott6634]

Wow, I've read this poem so many times, but they way you said it was perfect!!

[@fmazzar]

wonderful...we should all learn a poem and perform it once a year in front of strangers...the good old poems are the best

[@MadRainArt]

Thank you. I grew up in Bedford and heard Riley's poems for as long as I can remember. October was always my favorite time of year as it meant our librarian would do her annual reading of James Whitcomb Riley's works. "The Raggedy Man" was the first poem I ever recited myself. I'm now in Arizona, the land of No Autumn, longing for vibrant trees and picking time at Johnny's Orchard....so I searched for recitations of Riley's. This brought me to tears. Thank you for sharing a piece of home.

[@whatawonderful6623]

I couldn’t possibly love this more. Thank you. ❤️

[@miahfire76]

I felt the richness of the lyric, the lost traditions thank you. Reminiscent of Garrison Keillor, the performer's inherent Americana makes one long for early mornings, for strong coffee and even stronger whisky, and for the days that still had promise. Here's to you, Henry David, here's to you, Dick Proennecke! Here's to you, Howard Mosher, here's to you, Golfdude3213!

[@drewjenn9819]

That indeed was excellent! Thank you and may dad rest on peace with a smile on his face.

[@7920tn]

I love this! I heard the poem read a few years ago and have featured the poem on my blog before...then got to thinking and wondering could I hear it on You Tube...googled it and this was what I found. I featured it on my Pics & Pieces blog back in August, and had to hear it again. My husband turned down the TV and sat and listened with me...this is wonderful.

[@haydenfuhs4811]

What a beautiful recitation of this poem. Would surely make your father and James Whitcomb Riley proud!

[@yvonnegill1382]

I homeschooled my son when he was 10 years old and in Grade 5. This is one of the poems that we memorized that year, that was 1991. I've been thinking of the poem this fall, and was delighted to see that you had videoed this presentation. You did a wonderful job, thank you very much.

[@amymientka]

my twins are having to memorize this poem for school...we had never heard of it and were having difficulty putting any meaning to it. what the heck is a fodder or a shock???..then we watched your presentation and have a whole new feeling about it, t!hank you for sharing. We will memorize and recite this poem for school but also we will pass it on to our next generation...thanks to you

[@AmosPressley]

Kudos and respect to you for honoring your father in this way!

[@deborahdidreckson6514]

I so love this! My four children and I are memorizing this poem for autumn this year. Thank you for your beautiful rendition.

[@Bogajen]

Wonderful! I have a tear in my eye of great joy! Thank you for your reading...

[@dianeevans1565]

Left in 1962. Than you for allowing me to recapture what I believed, were forever lost memoies of my childhood...

[@patwhitecello]

Tears in my eyes! First time ever hearing this! SO deeply touching.

[@cubearcub]

Thank you for sharing this story and your delightful reading of this poem

[@pennyellis6396]

Beautiful! Doesn't get any better than this.

[@judyhembd250]

Thank you so much for sharing. You are a wonderful storyteller

[@EnglishLair]

Wow. And I mean that in that absolute greatest sense of the word. Chills and memories all at once. Thank you.

[@nospe223]

I think of this every fall.

[@karynmaddox9397]

I come back to listen to this every year

[@camsshel]

Thank you for posting this. I had heard the poem before, but this recitin' was perfection. The story before had me smiling and then dripping tears. It was assigned to my second grade daughter and she thinks it's funny that I cry for silly poems. :-)

[@RachelRhodesbud]

This recitation is so perfect, the way I believe it was meant to be performed. My 5th grade son is memorizing it, and other videos with polished performing voices (with British accents?) totally miss the spirit of the poem. I love this version!

[@naturalmama_of_5]

I was attempting to read this poem for our Homeschool morning but thought someone on KZbin might do a better job so we found this ❤️ Perfect! My boys LOVE hunting with their dad too!

[@A_Pa-Plainjane]

You are a true human being, sir, and i love what you have posted.

[@antsoftexas8887]

Delightful!! This will be played for my poetry students this fall! Thank you Sir!!

[@melissaseverance6494]

Lovely. Listened with my kids while carving jack o’ lanterns today. Thank you

[@olsonjk2]

It's that time of year again. Thanks Kent.

[@nikkirobinson2543]

I had to learn this poem in school.

[@jimandrachel1]

This is my favorite youtube video of all time. Excellent job, Sir!

[@connieolson2569]

Ij loved U77

[@SandyDriggers]

I LOVE this performance and the story behind it! Your daddy was good to assign you this duty!

[@laceynix920]

My son is learning this for his fourth grade class, he loves your story and it really gave meaning to this poem. He enjoys your version the best :) your father would be proud :)

[@enthusiastJD]

Tell him I said congrats on graduating

[@ELDELD]

Thank you for sharing. BEAUTIFUL! 🍂🍁

[@mrbrandonlerch]

This is a brilliant recitation.

[@madalinecederle2201]

It would be so lovely if you have a son or grandson who could recite this timeless poem to you on your way to Heaven. God Bless you sir.

[@proudbanjoist]

Thank you sir, that made my eyes tear up.

[@shirleybriggs8555]

Well done, this is the first time I heard this. Thank you for sharing.

[@mindykumfer]

I listen to this every year at the first frost.

[@maceymekos8346]

Thank you for sharing this video. It's nice to see someone recite it, the way it is meant to be read. The Riley Festival theme this year is "When the frost is on the Punkin." The Festival is October 02 - 05 2014, in Greenfield Indiana. Hope you can make it. You can tour James Whitcomb Riley childhood home.

[@timothya9804]

Thank you so much for sharing this!!

[@brianmbiggs]

Great telling of this poem. You're true to the words. Thanks for keeping your father's wishes alive. I love this poem and love your honest rendition. Brian

[@Treeseed]

Absolutely lovely!

[@llib51]

Thank you for that.

[@emleatha]

This is wonderful wonderful. Thank you.

[@JS4JESUS]

That was wonderful! We are reading this poem daily in school and I showed this to my students today. So glad you are reciting this to strangers again!

[@44maclark]

This made my day. I posted it on my facebook page. I will always treasure this poem and your recitation of it. Nice to see this slice of your life!

[@atlantis7070]

Fantastic!

[@gayeofPA]

SO well done.

[@MaraschinoChary]

I thoroughly enjoyed that, Sir

[@ronwerks]

@Golfdude3213 Such sad news. I love this video...thank you so much for posting it. RIP Kent Risley.

[@ThePaulster22]

Very nicely done!

[@moonoggin]

You are a jewel in the crown of life =) Your Dad made a good last wish ♡

[@susanmontgomery4761]

Love it!!!!

[@roseswalls3468]

I just realized I had never clicked the 'Like' button...shame on me. Because I come back every year, too...and sometimes in the off seasons, too.

[@rebeccaarthur363]

wow, that's excellent.

[@bayoulee]

My great grandma read it to me as a kid. Side note, the other day I saw the biggest covey of quail on my farm I've seen in years.

[@dforrest8218]

This cigar was a wonderful way to end it love it

[@ladyjp365]

Thank you.

[@jeffswain8152]

Wonderful fellow wonderful

[@elmsairheads]

Thank you. This group of seventh grade strangers enjoyed your recitation.

[@AshleyHoppen-vg4py]

Is this guy still alive? Would love to offer a venue for him to recite this fall!

[@KingdomBuilders]

Your father was right!😉 Thank You so much!!!!

[@doctorwu222]

Bravo! A treasure!

[@epicdeals3358]

Wow...so FULL of emotion. YOU, sir...could win academy awards. I have just shown my 10 and 8 year old kids this video and they loved it. I can see why your father loved to hear you perform this. What a great memory, and thank you so much for posting this for us "strangers". It will be shared on my facebook page. :) Facebook.com/djlight

[@markcummins8878]

When the frost is on the pumpkin it's time for pickle dunken 😄

[@AmericasJournal]

Is there any way to get in touch with Kent Risley?

[@HEROICRacingApparel]

I LOVED IT. Well, well, well done. Your father would be proud of you.

[@feelgoodaboutit]

I said hello country bumpkin, how's the frost out on the punkin. I've seen some sights, but man, you're somethin. Where'd ya come from, country bumpkin. LOL

[@heiditribelhorn3473]

Just a small correction....But the man's name is Rizley with a z instead of an s. The Rizley's are cherished people of my childhood memory.

[@amgerritsen]

Sorry, it took my link out. It's in my videos, if you're interested.

[@Ilikeit05]

Like,like,like,like,like,like,....Thank you so very much, sir....

[@Nogearz]

You have well honored Your Father.

[@amgerritsen]

Well, it's probably not up to Kent Risley's level, but here's my version of Little Orphant Annie.