Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AN OLD TORONTO BOY, by CARROLL RYAN


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AN OLD TORONTO BOY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Take care, old man!' 'I thank you, sir'
Last Line: Of an old toronto boy.
Alternate Author Name(s): Ryan, William Thomas Carroll
Subject(s): Childhood Memories; Home; Toronto, Canada


"Take care, Old Man!" "I thank you, sir."
"What street is this I'm on?"
"King-street." "And can you tell me where
I'll find the Helicon?"
"There's no such place. But if you are
A stranger, you can go
To the Rossin, it is not far."
"Across the street?" "Just so."

King street—a stranger—let me think
Rise up, ye stones, and tell
The memories that sweetly link
Crocus with asphodel.
The faces look Toronto-like.
I feel my mother earth.
St. James' clock! I hear it strike.
This is my place of birth.

But Oh, how changed! I look along
The old familiar street.
The bellman, yes, I hear his song,
And the tramp of vanished feet.
Toronto! I could fall and kiss
The very ground I tread.
O, Mother! Father! Sisters! this
Is speaking with the dead.

'Twas here that I first learned to be,
To read, to write, to row,
'Twas here I learned my A B C,
Some sixty years ago.
'Twas here that I became a man—
First knew of love the joy.
'Twas here the strange, wild race began
Of an Old Toronto Boy.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net