His chin went up and down, and chewed at nothing, His back was bent – the man was old and tired; Toothless and frail, he hobbled on his way, Admiring nothing, and by none admired; Unless it was that child, with eager eyes, Who stared amazed to see so strange a man,And hobbled home himself, with shoulders raised Trying to make his chin go up and down; Unless it was that much affected child, With rounded shoulders, like the old man seen – Who asked his mother why he was not made The wonderful strange sight he might have been. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ON A TUFT OF GRASS by EMMA LAZARUS MARRIAGE by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS FROST AT MIDNIGHT by SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE A SMUGGLER'S SONG by RUDYARD KIPLING MORITURI SALUTAMUS [WE WHO ARE TO DIE SALUTE YOU] by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE HAPPY LIFE by MARCUS VALERIUS MARTIALIS |