Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LITTLE FELLER, by PHIL PERKINS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LITTLE FELLER, by                    
First Line: Little feller - sure you knew him
Last Line: Don't you pity grown-up men?
Subject(s): Aging; Boys; Youth


Little feller—sure you knew him—
Prob'ly lived next door to you;
Sure, you wondered at th' interest
That he took in things you'd do;
An' no doubt he often wondered
As he watched you come an' go,
Just what mischief you had practised
In your boyhood, long ago.
Winter time you've seen him slidin'
On his bobsled down th' hill,
Screamin' with his boyish laughter
When his sled would tip an' spill.
An' no doubt you've been th' victim
Of that youngster's deadly aim,
As he sent a snowball flyin'
Wonderin' if 'twould miss or maim.
In th' springtime you have seen him—
Can o' worms an' willow pole—
Cuttin' down across th' meadow
Toward his favorite fishin' hole.
An' you've seen him an' his raiders—
Hair a-blowin' in th' breeze—
Out to leave their youthful trade-mark
On th' town's best cherry trees;
Seen him leadin' raidin' parties,
Testin' out th' mellowness
Of th' apples in th' orchards—
That was youth, not waywardness.
In th' swelt'ring heat o' summer,
Sure I know you've envied him,
As you've seen him slowly trudging
Toward th' creek to take a swim;
Barefoot, barehead—cheeks a-glowin'—
Garbed in overalls an' shirt,
Void of earthly cares an' duties—
Void of most all things, 'cept dirt—
You have seen him playin' cowboy,
Leadin' bands of injuns, too,
Swoopin' down upon th' victims—
You remember? Sure you do.
Little feller—face all freckles—
Wayward locks, an' bandaged toe—
Don't you miss th' little feller—
Don't you miss th' long ago?
As you sit before th' firelight
And in fancy live again
All th' happy days o' boyhood—
Don't you pity grown-up men?





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