Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW, by THOMAS HOOD Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Oh, when I was a tiny boy Last Line: To cast a look behind! Variant Title(s): Man And Boy Subject(s): Past | ||||||||
OH, when I was a tiny boy, My days and nights were full of joy, My mates were blithe and kind! -- No wonder that I sometimes sigh, And dash the tear-drop from my eye, To cast a look behind! A hoop was an eternal round Of pleasure. In those days I found A top a joyous thing; -- But now those past delights I drop, My head, alas! is all my top, And careful thoughts the string! My marbles -- once my bag was stored, -- Now I must play with Elgin's lord, With Theseus for a taw! My playful horse has slipt his string, Forgotten all his capering, And harness'd to the law! My kite -- how fast and far it flew! Whilst I, a sort of Franklin, drew My pleasure from the sky! 'Twas paper'd o'er with studious themes, The tasks I wrote -- my present dreams Will never soar so high! My joys are wingless all and dead; My dumps are made of more than lead; My flights soon find a fall; My fears prevail, my fancies droop, Joy never cometh with a hoop, And seldom with a call! My football's laid upon the shelf; I am a shuttlecock myself The world knocks to and fro; -- My archery is all unlearn'd, And grief against myself has turn'd My arrows and my bow! No more in noontide sun I bask; My authorship's an endless task, My head's ne'er out of school; My heart is pain'd with scorn and slight, I have too many foes to fight, And friends grown strangely cool! The very chum that shared my cake Holds out so cold a hand to shake, It makes me shrink and sigh: -- On this I will not dwell and hang, -- The changeling would not feel a pang Though these should meet his eye! No skies so blue or so serene As then; -- no leaves look half so green As clothed the playground tree! All things I loved are alter'd so, Nor does it ease my heart to know That change resides in me! Oh for the garb that mark'd the boy, The trousers made of corduroy, Well ink'd with black and red; The crownless hat, ne'er deem'd an ill -- It only let the sunshine still Repose upon my head! Oh for the riband round the neck! The careless dogs'-ears apt to deck My book and collar both! How can this formal man be styled Merely an Alexandrine child, A boy of larger growth? Oh for that small, small beer anew! And (heaven's own type) that mild sky-blue That wash'd my sweet meals down; The master even! -- and that small Turk That fagg'd me! -- worse is now my work -- A fag for all the town! Oh for the lessons learn'd by heart! Ay, though the very birch's smart Should mark those hours again; I'd "kiss the rod," and be resign'd Beneath the stroke, and even find Some sugar in the came! The Arabian Nights rehearsed in bed! The Fairy Tales in school-time read, By stealth, 'twixt verb and noun! The angel form that always walk'd In all my dreams, and look'd and talk'd Exactly like Miss Brown! The omne bene -- Christmas come! The prize of merit, won for home -- Merit had prizes then! But now I write for days and days, For fame -- a deal of empty praise, Without the silver pen! Then "home, sweet home!" the crowded coach -- The joyous shout -- the loud approach -- The winding horns like rams'! The meeting sweet that made me thrill, The sweetmeats, almost sweeter still, No "satis" to the "jams!" -- When that I was a tiny boy My days and nights were full of joy, My mates were blithe aud kind! No wonder that I sometimes sigh, And dash the tear-drop from my eye, To cast a look behind! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FERGUS FALLING by GALWAY KINNELL A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV LAST THINGS by WILLIAM MEREDITH CHRISTMAS TREE by JOHN FREDERICK NIMS THIS MORNING, GOD by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR |
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