SOME time there ben a lyttel boy That wolde not renne and play, And helpless like that little tyke Ben allwais in the way. "Goe, make you merrie with the rest," His weary moder cried; But with a frown he catcht her gown And hong untill her side. That boy did love his moder well, Which spake him faire, I ween; He loved to stand and hold her hand And ken her with his een; His cosset bleated in the croft, His toys unheeded lay, -- He wolde not goe, but, tarrying soe, Ben allwais in the way. Godde loveth children and doth gird His throne with soche as these, And he doth smile in plaisaunce while They cluster at his knees; And some time, when he looked on earth And watched the bairns at play, He kenned with joy a lyttel boy Ben allwais in the way. And then a moder felt her heart How that it ben to-torne, She kissed eche day till she ben gray The shoon he use to worn; No bairn let hold until her gown Nor played upon the floore, -- Godde's was the joy; a lyttel boy Ben in the way no more! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FOR OUR BETTER GRACES by JAMES GALVIN THE EXECUTIVE by DAVID IGNATOW HER MERRIMENT by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES IN THE MOONLIGHT by THOMAS HARDY CROTALUS by FRANCIS BRET HARTE IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: PROEM by ALFRED TENNYSON LINES WRITTEN IN A CITY COMPOSING-ROOM by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS |