Incidents in the Life of My Uncle Arly

by


Incidents in the Life of My Uncle Arly is from Edward Lear's collection of poems, The Jumblies, and Other Nonsense Verses (1910?). Lear's poems continue to delight and build confidence in early readers.


illustration for Incidents in the Life of My Uncle Arly I. O MY AGED UNCLE ARLY! Sitting on a heap of Barley Thro’ the silent hours of night,— Close beside a leafy thicket:— On his nose there was a Cricket,— In his hat a Railway-Ticket (But his shoes were far too tight). II. Long ago, in youth, he squander’d All his goods away, and wander’d To the Tiniskoop-hills afar. There on golden sunsets blazing, Every evening found him gazing,— Singing,—“Orb! you’re quite amazing! “How I wonder what you are!” illustration for Incidents in the Life of My Uncle Arly 1 III. Like the ancient Medes and Persians, Always by his own exertions He subsisted on those hills;— Whiles,—by teaching children spelling,— Or at times by merely yelling,— Or at intervals by selling “Propter’s Nicodemus Pills.” IV. Later, in his morning rambles He perceived the moving brambles— Something square and white disclose;— ’Twas a First-class Railway-Ticket; But, on stooping down to pick it Off the ground,—a pea-green Cricket Settled on my uncle’s Nose. V. Never—never more,—oh! never, Did that Cricket leave him ever,— Dawn or evening, day or night;— Clinging as a constant treasure,— Chirping with a cheerious measure,— Wholly to my uncle’s pleasure (Though his shoes were far too tight). illustration for Incidents in the Life of My Uncle Arly 2 illustration for Incidents in the Life of My Uncle Arly 3 VI. So for three and forty winters, Till his shoes were worn to splinters, All those hills he wander’d o’er,— Sometimes silent;—sometimes yelling;— Till he came to Borley-Melling, Near his old ancestral dwelling (But his shoes were far too tight). VII. On a little heap of Barley Died my agèd Uncle Arly, And they buried him one night;— Close beside the leafy thicket;— There,—his hat and Railway-Ticket;— There,—his ever-faithful Cricket (But his shoes were far too tight). illustration for Incidents in the Life of My Uncle Arly 4


8.5

facebook share button twitter share button reddit share button share on pinterest pinterest


Add Incidents in the Life of My Uncle Arly to your library.

Return to the Edward Lear library , or . . . Read the next poem; The Broom, The Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs

Or read more short stories for kids in our Children's Library

© 2022 AmericanLiterature.com