University of Virginia Library

Search this document 

collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
[My official name is Benjamin]
  
  
  
  
  
  


113

[My official name is Benjamin]

My official name is Benjamin,
Though they call me merely Ben
Familiar-like—no matter—
One day you'll surely see
I'll be
A Man amongst the Men.
Napoleon was small, they tell,
And so was Alexander:
Great spirits are not measured by
Your feet and inches—O dear no—
And so
Perchance I'm all the grander
For being in my stature—well,
Say on the briefer side:
Just bide a wee and you shall see
One day how gracious I'll appear,
No fear
In all my feline pride
Of mental grip and steady nerve,
And piercing gaze of eye
Beneath these snowy lashes set—
But yet as gentle as a dove
To those I love—
To Mother and Aunt Marjorie!
 

I apprehend the parties here referred to must be my wife and my sister. S. I. BENJAMIN. July 13th, 1926.