BESIDE the door they stand, anear the pane Tricked with toy-wares. It is a dapple-grey In smooth round wafers dight, and lifts alway One prancing foot from grass-green board upta'en. An urchin he, oft met down alley and lane, Half lost in his wide old rags; agrin to-day, Because he still with fearful joy dares lay A stroking finger on that furry mane. He tastes his perilous pleasure like a bird Of quick small feet and wary eye, that comes To peck strewn fragments, flown at breath scarce heard. You smile among the hedgerows. In the slums You think: When flits this child-glee lightly stirred, Shall manhood's craving miss even these poor crumbs? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNET by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON THE CAMBODIAN BOX by KAREN SWENSON THE BLOSSOM, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE AGAINST THEM WHO LAY UNCHASTITY TO THE SEX OF WOMAN by WILLIAM HABINGTON ENVOY: 2. TO MY MOTHER by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON |