Little Benny sat one evening, Looking o'er his picture-book: Suddenly his mother noticed On his face a troubled look. He was gazing on a picture, -- "Christians in the early days," When the cruel tyrant Nero Harassed them in various ways. 'Twas a family of Christians, Torn by lions fierce and wild, In the horrible arena, Which had thus distressed the child. Thinking it a golden moment To impress his youthful mind With our freedom, dearly purchased, And by martyrs' blood refined, His good mother told the story Of their persecutions sore, While he listened, all attention, And the picture pondered o'er. "See, my child, those hungry lions, How upon the group they fall! 'Tis a sight, my precious darling, That the bravest might appall." Then, with little lip a-quiver, "Mamma, look!" says little Benny: "Little lion in the corner, Mamma, isn't gettin' any!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MOUNTAIN WHIPPOORWILL (A GEORGIA ROMANCE) by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET SHALL I SAY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON ODE TO THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY by SIDNEY LANIER O GLORIOUS FRANCE by EDGAR LEE MASTERS WITH BEST WISHES by DOROTHY PARKER |