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Sandy Read Reiberg's avatar

My mom lived near Riley at one time in her teen years. She told me stories about his behavior that were scarier than your crypt for sure! And confirmed the opinion that he was actually quite worthless both as a poet and a human. A great Halloween tale, Mr. Basler.

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Anne-Marie Epp's avatar

"Worthless" you say. Sandy, you know that requires details!

And M B, do you really have that Mad Magazine collection? As a young teen, I was addicted,

but with age -- not mine!--it lost its class, I thought. Still, those early ones were so clever.

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Robert  Basler's avatar

hmmmmmmm, this is getting juicy!

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Mitch Koppelman's avatar

Ja. And I have copies in both languages.....my mother used to recite it in German - from memory.

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Mitch Koppelman's avatar

As children, we were terrorized by "Slovenly Peter" - translated from the original German.

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Anne-Marie Epp's avatar

War das der Struwell Peter? (Open to such a variety of interpretations--and terrors!

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Dan Huneke's avatar

My 3rd grade teacher, at Batesville Elementary, read us "Little Orphan Annie" during Halloween week numerous times. We begged for it and of course we were allowed to act scared and silly ........scream and hide under our desks. So when my own girls were in the 3rd grade I participated in "Parent story time" and Halloween week I read "Little Orphan Annie" to their class in the library. Everyone loved it and most of the teachers had not ever heard of it. Those kids, now 30 years old, all still remember it.

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Nathan's avatar

Ah, Indiana.

My Riley-esque ode to the Hoosier state is as follows:

The Caddy warm and purrin’, all tuned up, fueled and washed,

With four new gleamin’ tires, rode smooth like applesauce,

‘Til a turn down Kessler Avenue slung passengers about

An’ the pot-a-holes’ll git you

Ef you

Don’t

Watch

Out!

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Robert  Basler's avatar

Brilliant, Nathan!

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Zoraida Diaz's avatar

Sell the Mad one; you’ll have a nice Christmas! 💕

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trixiebettsDornoch's avatar

ooooh er!

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Patricia Coonan's avatar

Halloween is dreamy

Dark and often screamy

With goblins there is no script

Just giggling in the cool crypt

As they read a magazine that’s Mad

Tad crazy only makes them glad

A monster? It could be me

Look quick! You might just see me

Leave the Kit Kats out for the goblins!

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