Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE CHILDREN'S KING by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS

First Line: THERE ONCE WAS A MERRY OLD MONARCH
Last Line: MAKES A PRETTY GOOD RULER OF MEN.
Subject(s): PLAY;

There once was a merry old monarch
Who ruled in a frolicsome way.
He cut up high jinks with the children,
And played with them all through the day.

"A king always gets into trouble
When trying to govern," he said.
"So nothing but marbles and leap-frog
And tennis shall bother my head."

Ah, well! The wise people deposed him.
"You may govern the children," said they.
"Why, that is exactly what suits me,"
He replied, and went on with his play.

But it wasn't a year till the people
All wanted the king back again;
They had learned that a ruler of children
Makes a pretty good ruler of men.



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