YOU praise your kid before his face, explain to callers he's a peach, the pride and glory of the race, the only pebble on the beach. And soon that kid an aleck grows, a smarty all swelled up with pride; and people long to twist his nose, and lam the sawdust from his hide. The greatest bore that ever was is that obtrusive, forward kid, whose parents gave him wild applause for everything he ever did. When grave and thoughtful people call, to talk of weather and the crops, young Willie grieves and shocks them all, by his persistent, foolish yawps. The grave and thoughtful people look to see the father take a strap, or strip of board, or shepherd's crook, and pound that most annoying chap. But Father smiles, as does his spouse; he says, "Our Willie is so gay! He is a sunbeam in the house, he surely drives one's cares away!" The callers do not tarry long, they hasten from young Willie's door, and sigh, "How sweet to take a thong, and swat that kid until he's sore!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RUBAIYAT, 1879 EDITION: 12 by OMAR KHAYYAM REUBEN BRIGHT by EDWIN ARLINGTON ROBINSON WINTERTIME by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON SHE PASSED THIS WAY by ANNA M. ACKERMANN DRINKING SONG (5) by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 3. AR-RAHEEM by EDWIN ARNOLD A DEDICATION TO ATHENE by AULUS LICINIUS ARCHIAS A CHARACTER OF HIS FRIEND, W.B. ESQ by PHILIP AYRES A CONCLUSORIE HUMNE TO THE SAME WEEK; & FOR MY FRIEND by JOSEPH BEAUMONT |