"Neghborly Poems and Dialect Sketches" by James Whitcomb Riley James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer, poet, and best-selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the "Hoosier Poet" and "Children's Poet" for his dialect works. The poems in this volume are divided into sections: The Old Swimmin'-Hole, And 'Leven More Poems, Neighborly Poems, and the tale An Old Settler's Story which are all written in local dialect to bring the words to life.