The Old Swimmin' Hole

 

Oh! the old swimmin'-hole! In the long, lazy days

When the humdrum of school made so many run-a-ways,

How plesant was the jurney down the old dusty lane,

Whare the tracks of our bare feet was all printed so plane

James Whitcomb Riley's Old Swimming Hole

(Early 20th century painting)

William Allen Bixler
(1876-1961)

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

You could tell by the dent of the heel and the sole

They was lots o' fun on hands at the old swimmin'-hole.

But the lost joys is past! Let your tears in sorrow roll

Like the rain that ust to dapple up the old swimmin'-hole.

An excerpt from the poem,
"The Old Swimmin Hole"
(1883)
James Whitcomb Riley
(1849-1916)
American writer, poet, and
best-selling author

Known during his lifetime as
the "Children's Poet"  and the "Hoosier Poet".