Little Orphant Annie’s come to our house to stay,
An’ wash the cups an’ saucers up, an’ brush the crumbs away,
An’ shoo the chickens off the porch, an’ dust the hearth, an’ sweep,
An’ make the fire, an’ bake the bread, an’ earn her board-an’-keep;
An’ all us other childern, when the supper things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun
A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ‘at Annie tells about,
An’ the Gobble-uns ‘at gits you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
Onc’t they was a little boy wouldn’t s
ay his prayers,—
So when he went to bed at night, away up stairs,
His Mammy heerd him holler, an’ his Daddy heerd him bawl,
An’ when they turn’t the kivvers down, he wasn’t there at all!
An’ they seeked him in the rafter-room, an’ cubby-hole, an’ press,
An’ seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an’ ever’wheres, I guess;
But all they ever found was thist his pants an’ roundabout–
An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
An’ one time a little girl ‘ud allus laugh an’ grin,
An’ make fun of ever’one, an’ all her blood an’ kin;
An’ onc’t, when they was “company,” an’ ole folks was there,
She mocked ‘em an’ shocked ‘em, an’ said she didn’t care!
An’ thist as she kicked her heels, an’ turn’t to run an’ hide,
They was two great big Black Things a-standin’ by her side,
An’ they snatched her through the ceilin’ ‘fore she knowed what she’s about!
An’ the Gobble-uns’ll git you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
An’ little Orphant Annie says when the blaze is blue,
An’ the lamp-wick sputters, an’ the wind goes woo-oo!
An’ you hear the crickets quit, an’ the moon is gray,
An’ the lightnin’-bugs in dew is all squenched away,–
You better mind yer parents, an’ yer teachers fond an’ dear,
An’ churish them ‘at loves you, an’ dry the orphant’s tear,
An’ he’p the pore an’ needy ones ‘at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns’ll git you
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
When deciding what poem to adopt I saw the title “Little Orphan Annie” and instantly remembered my favorite childhood movie that I used to watch with my sister all the time. “Little Orphan Annie” by James Whitcomb Riley is a poem that works through its simple yet evocative language and storytelling. Structurally, it consists of eight quatrains with an AABB rhyme scheme, providing a rhythmic and easy-to-follow flow. The poem tells the story of Little Orphan Annie, a character who brings joy and light to a household despite her own difficult circumstances. The poem’s language is straightforward, using dialect and colloquial phrases that add to its charm and accessibility. It employs a mix of humor and sentimentality, capturing the innocence and resilience of the titular character. Sound-wise, the poem has a singsong quality due to its rhyme scheme and rhythm, making it suitable for recitation or reading aloud. This musicality enhances its appeal and contributes to its memorability.
The repetition of “little” in the title and throughout the poem (“little Orphant Annie,” “little Orphan Annie’s come to our house to stay”) reinforces the character’s small size and vulnerability while also endearing her to the reader. Culturally, “Little Orphan Annie” is significant as it reflects the common themes and values of the late nineteenth century. It embodies the sentimentality and idealization of childhood prevalent in literature of the time. The character of Little Orphan Annie, with her plucky and optimistic demeanor despite adversity, represents the American spirit of resilience and hope in the face of hardship. The poem also touches on themes of poverty, family, and the power of imagination, which were relevant and relatable to many during that era. In terms of typicality for nineteenth-century poetry, “Little Orphan Annie” aligns with the sentimentality and moralizing tone often found in works from this period. It employs a straightforward narrative style with clear moral lessons, such as the importance of kindness and the value of optimism in difficult circumstances. However, its use of dialect and colloquial language sets it apart somewhat, giving it a more down-to-earth and folksy feel compared to some more formal nineteenth-century poetry.
.“Little Orphan Annie” is a charming and culturally significant poem that works through its simple yet effective language, rhythmic structure, and portrayal of an endearing character. It reflects the values and themes of its time while also offering a timeless message of hope and resilience. In the poem when it says “You better mind yer parents, an’ yer teachers fond an’ dear, An’ churish them ‘at loves you, an’ dry the orphant’s tear,” It shows how we should cherish our loved ones and appreciate what we have. There is orphans out there and we should respect our parents and family members because there are children out there that don’t have them. The poem shows that if someone who is an orphan can have such positive and light in their life then people who aren’t orphans but going through hardship, definitely should. Annie sets an example for all children.
Although I can’t relate to how Annie grew up, I relate to the importance of kindness and compassion that is shown to Annie throughout the poem. Despite Annie being an orphan, “Little Orphan Annie” highlights the kindness shown to Annie by the narrator’s family. For me I believe in the power of kindness and try to show compassion to others, this poem resonates with me because you never know what someone might be going through. This poem reaffirms my belief in the importance of reaching out to those in need and being a source of light for others. A theme we see in this poem is resilience in adversity. Annie dealt with personal struggles and tough times but her optimistic outlook and ability to find joy despite her harsh circumstances is inspiring. Annie reminds me of the time I dealt with a lot of struggles in my life. I was going through a really hard time and wanted to give up. I prayed a lot during this time and hoped things would get better. Eventually I learned that everything happens for a reason and that everything that happens to us happens for us, and for a reason. Although me and Annie went through different struggles we both took those struggles and turned them into something positive, learning from them and it made us stronger as a person. Annie shows no matter what you go through you will always come out on the other side. I truly believe that although bad things in our lives happen, it’s how we deal with them and how we react to them that predicts our future. Another thing that I relate to through Annie is how she finds joy in small things. For me I always try to see the best in everything, even the small things in life. Annie finds joy in simple pleasures, such as her laughter and singing filling the house with light. Although the situation she was handed wasn’t a positive one she made the best of it. She decided to still be joyful through it all and show positivity through the struggles of being an orphan and living in a house with multiple girls and a mean guardian. Her positive mindset throughout the poem reminds me to cherish my loved ones and all of my experiences throughout life. Life is definitely what you make out of it and how you choose to look at your situation. Although things can definitely get hard in life it’s important to find hope and cherish the little things. There was one time that I was struggling and having a really bad day. Instead of continuing my bad day I decided to go see the sunset. Something as simple as this lightened my day and made it so much better. Although it was a small thing and nothing major it made me feel a lot better and appreciate the life I was given.
Works Cited
James Whitcomb Riley’s “Little Orphant Annie https://www.buckeyemuse.com/james-whitcomb-rileys-little-orphant-annie/ Buckeye Muse April 22, 2024 October 02, 2018
PoetAndPoem.Com https://poetandpoem.com/interpretation-little-orphant-annie-james-whitcomb-riley Interpretation of Little Orphant Annie by James Whitcomb Riley- PoetAndPoem.com April 22, 2024
