Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OLD DAVID SMALL, by ROBERT WILLIAM SERVICE


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OLD DAVID SMALL, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: He dreamed away his hours in school
Last Line: "I've loved it all . . ."" -- and so he died."
Subject(s): Paris, France


HE dreamed away his hours in school;
He sat with such an absent air,
The master reckoned him a fool,
And gave him up in dull despair.

When other lads were making hay
You'd find him loafing by the stream;
He's take a book and slip away,
And just pretend to fish . . . and dream.

His brothers passed him in the race;
They climbed the hill and clutched the prize.
He did not seem to heed, his face
Was tranquil as the evening skies.

He lived apart, he spoke with few;
Abstractedly through life he went;
Oh, what he dreamed of no one knew,
And yet he seemed to be content.

I see him now, so old and grey,
His eyes with inward vision dim;
And though he faltered on the way,
Somehow I almost envied him.

At last beside his bed I stood:
"And is Life done so soon?" he sighed;
"It's been so rich, so full, so good,
I've loved it all . . ." -- and so he died.





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