A Caller from Boone. Benj. F. Johnson Visits the
The poem is a nostalgic and humorous tribute to the rural life of Indiana's countryside. It describes the visit of a city dweller, Benj. F. Johnson, to a rural community in Boone County. The speaker portrays the visitor's awkwardness and naivety as he navigates the rustic surroundings and interacts with the locals.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1887 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Regionalism · 4,586 words
First lines
It was a dim and chill and loveless afternoon in / the late fall of eighty-three when I first saw / the genial subject of this hasty sketch. From time / to time the daily paper on which I worked had been / receiving, among the general literary driftage of / amateur essayists, poets and sketch-writers, some / conceits in verse that struck the editorial head as / decidedly novel; and, as they were evidently the / production of an unlettered man, and an OLD man, / and a farmer at that, they were usually spared the / waste-basket, and preserved -- not for publication, / but to pass from hand to hand among the members / of the staff as simply quaint and mirth-provoking / specimens of the verdancy of both the venerable / author and the Muse inspiring him.
What this Textopian page supports
A Caller from Boone. Benj. F. Johnson Visits the Editor is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1887 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Regionalism, Pastoral, Fiction
- Length: 4,586 words
- Structure: 1 section, 56 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Caller from Boone. Benj. F. Johnson Visits the Editor by James Whitcomb Riley
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is primarily composed of poems, with a focus on the rhythm, meter, and themes typical of poetry.
- Humor — The narrative includes humorous elements, particularly in the depiction of the old man's character and his interactions with the editor.
- Regionalism — The work captures the dialect, culture, and rural life of a specific region, emphasizing local color and character.
- Pastoral — The poems and narrative reflect a nostalgic view of rural life and nature, typical of pastoral literature.
Tags
American Literature · Poetry Collection · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Regionalism · Midwestern Culture · Folklore · Storytelling · Nostalgia · Rural Life · Small Town America