Sunday, November 29, 2009

Mixed Media Monday - Bedtime Story


My mother had Riley's "Li'l Orphant Annie" committed to memory in completion. She'd recite it with voice inflection I can hear still, but I was never afraid because she was right there. It's a wonder the childhood tales of long ago didn't scare children silly! The poem was written long before the creation of the Orphan Annie we've come to know today. I scoured the net for an illustration from the original Riley book, and could find none, so I've created Annie as she appeared in my mind's eye all those years ago, when this second verse was my very favorite:
"Once there was a little boy who wouldn't say his prayers
And when he went to bed at night away up stairs
His mommy heard him holler and his daddy heard him bawl
But when they pulled the covers back he wasn't there at all.
They seeked him in the attic room, the cubby hole and press
And even up the chimney flue, and everywhere, I guess.
But all they ever found of him was his pants and roundabouts
And the goblins'll getcha if you don't watch out!"
Thanks for the challenge that brought this memory back to me, and thanks to all of you for listening to my tale!

28 comments:

  1. You know I'm not keen on poetry but you have a way of whetting my sences with it. What a strong memory. Thanks for sharing I really like your illistration and memory of the poem.

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  2. Oh my gosh how cute is this!!!! What a wonderful memory... great card to go along with your memories!!!

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  3. I love when you share your memories, Bev! What a vivid poem! And I love your rendition of Little Orphan Annie! Hugs, Terri xoxo

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  4. It is beautiful and artistic. Standing ovation from me.
    Absolutely lovely.

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  5. It's a wonderful piece, Bev! I can tell how much fun you had wandering down memory lane! Diane

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  6. Lovely piece Bev and it's nice to hear some of your child hood memories. Great work! :0)

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  7. Beautiful book cover for your Li'l Orphan Annie, Bev. I have to admit I shuddered a bit when I read the poem about the little boy who was taken off by goblins. It made me think back to stories and poems of my childhood that were scary and etched into my lifetime of memories. Stories like that would be politically incorrect today and written off as unsuitable for little ones. However, we survived, didn't we?

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  8. Love Annie and the poem too, Bev!

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  9. Oh, what a wonderful piece and post! I love the book background and the image you found is perfect!

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  10. Bev, wonderful Annie piece! The image is just perfect for the poem (which I also grew up hearing recited). I really love this piece.

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  11. I remember this as well!!!!!
    wonderful choice and image!

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  12. this is great! love the book cover background!

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  13. oh I just love childhood memories that are still in our minds...this is wonderful and I love your story!!!

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  14. thanks for that story... i don´t know the book, but you "restored" it beautifully!! wonderful vintage look!

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  15. Beautiful work, Bev! I really love this.

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  16. Love your cover, the lovely image and the wonderful poem.

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  17. This is incredible. My mother used to recite Little Orphsn Annie so much to me that I almost have it memorized! Thank you for bringing back such a lovely memory with your precious work.

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  18. What a delightful post. My Dad can still recite so many of the poems and prose that he memorized when he was young. I wonder if they really stopped to realize how scary so much of it was. This is a marvelous piece and definitely reminiscent of times past.

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  19. Bev, thanks for the comment on my bedtime stories. There aren't too many of us ladies vintage enough to remember Billy Whiskers. I think that series was written in my mother's era and she liked it so much she passed it on to us. Don't you think?

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  20. You're so right about the scary stories that used to be read to children Bev - you only have to think of the awful things that happen in Grimm's Fairy Tales but this is a lovely way of reminding us of your and our childhoods.

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  21. Bev, I so love it when you reminisce with us, and I marvel at your vivid memories, especially of your Mother who was a strong woman for sure. Thanks for the rendition of the child scaring poem and your beautiful illustrated book cover. Bravo.

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  22. what a gorgeous entry.such a wonderful memory

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  23. This is a beautiful work of art. Thanks for sharing the memory nad the part of the poem.

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  24. Excellent art, and the verse takes me back to my own childhood. This is wonderful!

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