We used to think, his ma and me, How sort of jealous we would be When Sonny got along to where He had a girl -- and now he's there. He never noticed them till now; And yet we knew sometime, somehow, A laffin' eye, a golden curl, Would set his boyish heart a-whirl, And then we'd know he had a girl. Oh, yes, she might be sweet and good As any youngster ever could; We ain't a bit afraid of that, And that ain't what I'm drivin' at. But even in the second grade We always felt a bit afraid; We always felt afraid because We feared, like others mas and pas, He wouldn't be the boy he was. And now it's happened -- certain as The signs of Spring -- we know it has. For now he parts and combs his hair, And asks for somethin' clean to wear, And trims his nails, and ties his tie, And shines his shoes -- and we know why. When any boy unasked appears To wash his neck behind the ears, That's love -- no matter what his years. He's got a girl. And me, his dad, And Ma, we both are rather glad. We thought we'd hate to have our son To ever care for anyone Exceptin' us; but, dear me suz, As Mother says, we're glad he does. No jealous thoughts our hearts annoy, In fact it's added to our joy: My, how it has improved that boy! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MOUNTAIN VALLEY by MALCOLM COWLEY GEOMETRY IS THE MIND OF GOD by JAMES GALVIN OFFERING by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON WHEN I AM DEAD by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON DE LITTLE PICKANINNY'S GONE TO SLEEP by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON A LITTLE GIRL'S PRAYER by KATHERINE MANSFIELD HER EYES by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON |