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A COUNTRY PATHWAY (Excerpt)
by James Whicomb Riley

I come upon it suddenly, alone–
A little pathway winding in the weeds
That fringe the roadside; and with dreams my own,
I wander as it leads.

Full wistfully along the slender way,
Through summer tan of freckled shade and shine,
I take the path that leads me as it may–
Its every choice is mine…

(Read the entire poem at poemhunter.com)

Photo: Actor James Dean (1931-1955), an Indiana native, reads from THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY. James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916), born in Greenville, Indiana, was known as the “Hoosier” poet.  (For the record, Indiana is the Hoosier State — and “hoosier” is a term for someone from Indiana.)