A little book of tribune verse A number of hitherto uncollected poems, grave and gay |
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THE SWIMMING BOY. |
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 | A little book of tribune verse |  |
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THE SWIMMING BOY.
A little boy went out to swim
And took a cake of soap with him
And slimed each supple little limb.
And took a cake of soap with him
And slimed each supple little limb.
And when he on the bank arove
One long last downward look he gove
And then into the water dove.
One long last downward look he gove
And then into the water dove.
And trying to regain the top
In vain, alas! he tried to flop,
He went so fast he couldn't stop;
In vain, alas! he tried to flop,
He went so fast he couldn't stop;
His limbs were soaped from heel to hip
He couldn't get a half-way grip,
For, every time he tried, he'd slip.
He couldn't get a half-way grip,
For, every time he tried, he'd slip.
The water no resistance gave
And so beneath the murky wave
He found a wet untimely grave.
And so beneath the murky wave
He found a wet untimely grave.
With thrilling, thundering, thumping thud
He struck the misty, moisty mud,
And turtles fattened on his blood.
He struck the misty, moisty mud,
And turtles fattened on his blood.
We dedicate this little hymn
To little boys of supple limb
Who soap themselves before they swim.
To little boys of supple limb
Who soap themselves before they swim.
(Attributed to) Col. John Arkins.
November 27th, 1882.
| A little book of tribune verse | |