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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE KIND OLD MAN, by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography
First Line: The kind old man - the mild old
Last Line: When he was as tough as they!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Children; Memory; Old Age; Youth; Childhood
First Line: The kind old man - the mild old
Last Line: When he was as tough as they!
Alternate Author Name(s): Johnson Of Boone, Benj. F.
Subject(s): Children; Memory; Old Age; Youth; Childhood
THE kind old man -- the mild old man --
Who smiled on the boys at play,
Dreaming, perchance, of his own glad youth
When he was as blithe and gay!
And the larger urchin tossed the ball,
And the lesser held the bat --
Though the kindly old man's eyes were blurred
He could even notice that!
But suddenly he was shocked to hear
Words that I dare not write,
And he hastened, in his kindly way,
To curb them as he might!
And he said, "Tut! tut! you naughty boy
With the ball! for shame!" and then,
"You boy with the bat, whack him over the head
If he calls you that again!"
The kind old man -- the mild old man --
Who gazed on the boys at play,
Dreaming, perchance, of his own wild youth
When he was as tough as they!
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