BESIDE the door they stand, anear the pane Tricked with toy-wares. It is a dapple-grey In smooth round wafers dight, and lifts alway One prancing foot from grass-green board upta'en. An urchin he, oft met down alley and lane, Half lost in his wide old rags; agrin to-day, Because he still with fearful joy dares lay A stroking finger on that furry mane. He tastes his perilous pleasure like a bird Of quick small feet and wary eye, that comes To peck strewn fragments, flown at breath scarce heard. You smile among the hedgerows. In the slums You think: When flits this child-glee lightly stirred, Shall manhood's craving miss even these poor crumbs? | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LOVELINESS OF LOVE by GEORGE DARLEY A SOLILOQUY; OCCASIONED BY THE CHIRPING OF A GRASSHOPPER by WALTER HARTE THE BIGLOW PAPERS. 2D SERIES. THE COURTIN' by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL AT THE SEASIDE by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON SUMMER NIGHT, RIVERSIDE by SARA TEASDALE THE ARID LANDS by HERBERT BASHFORD |