The Tree-Toad
This poem is a nostalgic and humorous tribute to the joys of childhood. It describes the speaker's memories of playing with a tree-toad, a type of frog that lives in trees, during their youth. The poem explores themes of innocence, simplicity, and the passing of time.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1883 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Fable · 294 words
First lines
"S cur'ous-like," said the tree-toad, "I've twittered fer rain all day; And I got up soon, And hollered tel noon -- But the sun, hit blazed away, Tell I jest clumb down in a crawfish-hole, Weary at hart, and sick at soul!
"Dozed away fer an hour, And I tackled the thing agin: And I sung, and sung, Tel I knowed my lung Was jest about give in; And THEN, thinks I, ef hit don't rain NOW, They's nothin' in singin', anyhow!
"Onc't in a while some farmer Would come a-drivin' past; And he'd hear my cry, And stop and sigh -- Tel I jest laid back, at last, And I hollered rain tel I thought my th'oat Would bust wide open at ever' note!
What this Textopian page supports
The Tree-Toad is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1883 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: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Fable, Nature
- Length: 294 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for The Tree-Toad by James Whitcomb Riley
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Humor — The narrative employs a humorous tone, particularly in the exaggerated efforts of the tree-toad to summon rain.
- Fable — The story features an anthropomorphic animal with a moral or lesson about persistence and patience.
- Nature — The central theme revolves around natural elements, specifically the interaction between the tree-toad and the weather.
Tags
Fiction · Children's Literature · Poetry · Nature · Imagination · Fantasy · Adventure · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery