tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post113565838686434732..comments2023-11-10T04:17:00.492-05:00Comments on View From The Porch: Poetry Corner: Little Willies.Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-69413009044994408162012-06-16T14:42:47.665-04:002012-06-16T14:42:47.665-04:00Little Willie at a passing gent,
Threw a batch of ...Little Willie at a passing gent,<br />Threw a batch of fresh cement.<br />Crying, "Wait until you dry, <br />then you'll be a real hard guy."Wrennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-90291596206348077702012-06-16T14:39:54.564-04:002012-06-16T14:39:54.564-04:00Little Willie with bat and ball,
Lined one down th...Little Willie with bat and ball,<br />Lined one down the schoolhouse hall.<br />Through his door came Mister Hill.<br />Several teeth are missing still.joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-75274407845379952082012-06-04T14:46:11.178-04:002012-06-04T14:46:11.178-04:00My grandmother (born 1888) liked "Ruthless Rh...My grandmother (born 1888) liked "Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes, by Col. D. Streamer, 1901." The later edition I saw had cartoon illustrations. A rhyme I memorized went like this:<br /><br />Bob was bathing in the bay<br />When a shark passed that way<br />And punctured him in seven places,<br />And he made such FUNNY faces!Calebnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-54319727701122400832011-08-01T00:23:12.612-04:002011-08-01T00:23:12.612-04:00Here's one I remember from my childhood, some ...Here's one I remember from my childhood, some 65 years ago.<br /><br />Little Willie in the tub,<br />Little Willie rub-a-dub.<br />Little Willie pulled the chain,<br />Little Willie down the drain.<br /><br />-dbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-5418404950833713832011-06-20T17:04:29.247-04:002011-06-20T17:04:29.247-04:00Willy found some dynamite,
couldn't understand...Willy found some dynamite,<br />couldn't understand it quite,<br />curiosity never pays,<br />it rained Willy's for 7 days.Canguro6969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-43241426535620064412011-05-23T06:01:28.600-04:002011-05-23T06:01:28.600-04:00Oswald Chambers quoted it this way:
Little Willie...Oswald Chambers quoted it this way:<br /><br />Little Willie in best of sashes<br />Fell in the fire and was burned to ashes<br />Later on the room grew chilly<br />But no-one cared to poke poor Willy.What's in a Name?https://www.blogger.com/profile/12135443835544306368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-24228170165081293782010-07-27T00:05:00.415-04:002010-07-27T00:05:00.415-04:00This one comes from my sainted grandmother, Ada Ch...This one comes from my sainted grandmother, Ada Cheever Duffey, descendant of Ezekiel Cheever, original headmaster of the Boston Latin School, proving that good seeds can go bad:<br /><br />Little Willie, ever lovin'<br />Put the baby in the oven,<br />Burnt him to a crispy tan,<br />Now ain't he mama's little man?jessie27mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-63912269668710936222010-04-05T21:34:26.749-04:002010-04-05T21:34:26.749-04:00Little Willie, in a fit of glee
Put radium in Gran...Little Willie, in a fit of glee<br />Put radium in Grandma's tea.<br />Now he finds it quite a lark<br />To see her shining in the dark.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-59457490986018705962009-12-01T16:44:28.597-05:002009-12-01T16:44:28.597-05:00I'm glad I can add another:
Little Willie...I'm glad I can add another:<br /> Little Willie lit a rocket<br /> Put it in his Father's pocket<br /> Proudly said to Uncle Dan<br /> "Daddy is a travelin' man"Jofishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17355334117506868537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-21615558860285424322009-09-30T15:29:54.772-04:002009-09-30T15:29:54.772-04:00My father-in-law taught me this one:
Little Willy...My father-in-law taught me this one:<br /><br />Little Willy took the garden shears<br />And cut off both of baby's ears.<br />On seeing baby so unsightly<br />Mother raised her eyebrows... Slighty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-35213876925904379712009-06-19T08:32:01.598-04:002009-06-19T08:32:01.598-04:00In addition to some of those cited, I remember the...In addition to some of those cited, I remember these from a school English class, probably high school circa 1950.<br /><br />Willy in a thirst for gore<br />Nailed the baby to the door.<br />Mother said with humor quaint,<br />"Don't do that dear, you'll chip the paint."<br /><br />Little Willy with a shout<br />Gouged the baby's eyeballs out,<br />Stamped on them to make them pop.<br />Mother said, "Now willy, stop."<br /><br />This one not from school:<br /><br />Little willy with a grin<br />Drank up all his father's gin.<br />Father laughed to see him plastered,<br />"Go to bed, you little bastard!"<br /><br />The provenance of that one, I suspect, is much later than that of the classic ones.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-27206845477116698102009-03-10T18:52:00.000-04:002009-03-10T18:52:00.000-04:00My Dad was great at Willy poems and used to recite...My Dad was great at Willy poems and used to recite them very often, always with a smile since they reminded him of his youth! Here is one which I believe has not been published:<BR/><BR/>Little Willy on his way to Harridge<BR/>tumbled out of the railway carriage,<BR/>his father and mother sorrow tasted<BR/>at seeing Willy´s ticket wasted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-6695069927612067412009-01-31T19:58:00.000-05:002009-01-31T19:58:00.000-05:00My shorthand teacher, back in the 50's, sometimes ...My shorthand teacher, back in the 50's, sometimes wrote Little Willy verses on the blackboard for us to translate. The first one was,<BR/>"Willy with his curls and sashes fell into the fire and burned to ashes. Now, tho the room is getting chilly, no one wants to stir up Willy."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-417815931254273282009-01-30T22:24:00.000-05:002009-01-30T22:24:00.000-05:00When I was a boy, I had a tiny book entitled "Litt...When I was a boy, I had a tiny book entitled "Little Willies" which had been published in 1909Most of the poems in the book are on this web site. Here is another which I don't find here.<BR/><BR/>Willie heard a buzz-saw buzz<BR/>like a bike he thought it was.<BR/>Willie's corpse is full of nicks.<BR/>Ain't he cute: he's cut in six.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-72601733435039327162008-08-17T20:38:00.000-04:002008-08-17T20:38:00.000-04:00ah, it came back to me:Little Willie in a barrelHe...ah, it came back to me:<BR/><BR/>Little Willie in a barrel<BR/>Heading toward the falls.<BR/>Said his father "Sad's the day<BR/>When your children drift away."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-24663713381620040912008-07-30T18:22:00.000-04:002008-07-30T18:22:00.000-04:00I'm so excited to find all these!My grandfather's ...I'm so excited to find all these!My grandfather's version was<BR/><BR/>"Little Willy, mad as hell,<BR/>Pushed his sister down the well.<BR/>Said his father, drawing water,<BR/>"It sure is hard to raise a daughter"<BR/><BR/>He had another that started out something like:<BR/>Little Willy in a barrel<BR/>Heading toward the falls,...<BR/><BR/>Cant remember the rest! Ring a bell with anyone?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-13593719779206551412008-06-11T22:15:00.000-04:002008-06-11T22:15:00.000-04:00Here is one I remember.....Little Willy, feeling s...Here is one I remember.....<BR/><BR/>Little Willy, feeling swell<BR/>Pushed his sister down the well<BR/>Mother said while drawing water...<BR/>"it's so hard to raise a daughter!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-68386024499662025972008-05-15T09:08:00.000-04:002008-05-15T09:08:00.000-04:00Does anyone know if Ogden Nash wrote "Little Willy...Does anyone know if Ogden Nash wrote "Little Willy" verses? I'd heard he did. About 35 years ago, I was told two verses that differ from the others. <BR/><BR/>Willy by the fireside<BR/>fell into the grate and died.<BR/>Now although the room grows chilly,<BR/>No one has the heart to rake up Willy.<BR/><BR/>Willy by the elevator<BR/>wasn't found till 8 days later.<BR/>Now the neighbors sniff, "Gee whiz,<BR/>What a spoiled boy that Willy is!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-23722928583542858002008-01-31T00:57:00.000-05:002008-01-31T00:57:00.000-05:00Into the cistern little WilliePushed his little si...Into the cistern little Willie<BR/>Pushed his little sister Lily<BR/>Mother couldn't find her daughter<BR/>Now we sterilize our water<BR/>AND<BR/>Into his family's water well<BR/>Willie pushed his sister Nell<BR/>She's down there yet, the water kilt her<BR/>Now we have to use a filter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-11296484078159767882008-01-15T22:34:00.000-05:002008-01-15T22:34:00.000-05:00Another Willie and the train goes:Willie, in a rag...Another Willie and the train goes:<BR/><BR/>Willie, in a rage insane,<BR/>Threw his head beneath the train.<BR/>All were quite surprised to find<BR/>How it broadened Willie's mind.<BR/><BR/>And good advice for all:<BR/><BR/>Dr. Joners fell in the well<BR/>And dies without a moan.<BR/>He should have tended to the sick<BR/>\And left the well alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-2822730857128934612007-11-08T00:25:00.000-05:002007-11-08T00:25:00.000-05:00This is the original passage from the book, Ruthle...This is the original passage from the book, Ruthless Rhymes for Heartless Homes, by Col. D. Streamer, 1901:<BR/><BR/>Billy, in one of his nice new sashes,<BR/>Fell in the fire and was burnt to ashes;<BR/>Now, although the room grows chilly,<BR/>I haven't the heart to poke poor Billy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-61921368134533708152007-10-11T12:54:00.000-04:002007-10-11T12:54:00.000-04:00my favourite:Little Willie from the mirrorlicked t...my favourite:<BR/><BR/>Little Willie from the mirror<BR/>licked the Mercury all off<BR/>thinking in his childish manner<BR/>it would cure his whooping cough<BR/>at the funeral Willie's mother<BR/>smartly said to Mrs. Brown<BR/>'twas a chilly day for Willie<BR/>when the Mercury went down.jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09632236842443763247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-42071250458231095312007-04-13T18:37:00.000-04:002007-04-13T18:37:00.000-04:00Little Willie on the trackHeard the engine squeal;...Little Willie on the track<BR/>Heard the engine squeal;<BR/>Now the engine's coming back,<BR/>Scraping Willy off the wheel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-1164505764124109012006-11-25T20:49:00.000-05:002006-11-25T20:49:00.000-05:00Have been looking for the source of the Willy Line...Have been looking for the source of the Willy Lines for a long time! Ours from Grandpa differs a bit from the others:<BR/>Little Willie in his bright red sashes<BR/>Fell in the fire and burned to ashes<BR/>By and by the room grew chilly<BR/>'Cause nobody bothered to stir up Willy.<BR/>(Thanks all!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-1159563723822680602006-09-29T17:02:00.000-04:002006-09-29T17:02:00.000-04:00I was thrilled to find this sight.I grew up being ...I was thrilled to find this sight.<BR/><BR/>I grew up being told to "poke up Willie".<BR/><BR/>I didn't realize there were "Willie" poems other than the fire one.<BR/><BR/>Little Willie, all dressed in sashes<BR/>Fell in the fire and was burned to ashes<BR/>By and by, the room grew chilly<BR/>But nobody wanted to poke up Willie. (that's the way I learned it)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com