Poetry for Children By Charles and Mary Lamb: To which are added Prince Dorus and some uncollected poems by Charles Lamb: Edited, prefaced and annotated by Richard Herne Shepherd |
 |
THE LAME BROTHER. |
 |
 | Poetry for Children |  |
32
THE LAME BROTHER.
My parents sleep both in one grave;
My only friend's a brother.
The dearest things upon the earth
We are to one another.
My only friend's a brother.
The dearest things upon the earth
We are to one another.
A fine stout boy I knew him once,
With active form and limb;
Whene'er he leaped, or jumped, or ran,
O I was proud of him!
With active form and limb;
Whene'er he leaped, or jumped, or ran,
O I was proud of him!
He leaped too far, he got a hurt,
He now does limping go.—
When I think on his active days,
My heart is full of woe.
He now does limping go.—
When I think on his active days,
My heart is full of woe.
He leans on me, when we to school
Do every morning walk;
I cheer him on his weary way,
He loves to hear my talk:
Do every morning walk;
I cheer him on his weary way,
He loves to hear my talk:
33
The theme of which is mostly this,
What things he once could do.
He listens pleased—then sadly says,
“Sister, I lean on you.”
What things he once could do.
He listens pleased—then sadly says,
“Sister, I lean on you.”
Then I reply, “Indeed you're not
Scarce any weight at all.—
And let us now still younger years
To memory recall.
Scarce any weight at all.—
And let us now still younger years
To memory recall.
“Led by your little elder hand,
I learned to walk alone;
Careful you used to be of me,
My little brother John.
I learned to walk alone;
Careful you used to be of me,
My little brother John.
“How often, when my young feet tired,
You've carried me a mile!—
And still together we can sit,
And rest a little while.
You've carried me a mile!—
And still together we can sit,
And rest a little while.
“For our kind master never minds,
If we're the very last;
He bids us never tire ourselves
With walking on too fast.”
If we're the very last;
He bids us never tire ourselves
With walking on too fast.”
| Poetry for Children | |