Lately whenever I've come home Christian yells "no daddy!" and runs away to grab onto Rachel's leg. I later ingratiate myself with him and we end up playing, but that's how my post-school routine usually starts. He's also started to come up and want a kiss when Rachel and I kiss. A few days ago I read a Eugene Fields poem that I thought was relevant.
To a Usurper
Aha! a traitor in the camp,
A rebel strangely bold,--
A lisping, laughing, toddling scamp,
Not more than four years old!
To think that I, who've ruled alone
So proudly in the past,
Should be ejected from my throne
By my own son at last!
He trots his treason to and fro,
As only babies can,
And says he'll be his mamma's beau
When he's a "gweat, big man"!
You stingy boy! you've always had
A share in mamma's heart;
Would you begrudge your poor old dad
The tiniest little part?
That mamma, I regret to see,
Inclines to take your part,--
As if a dual monarchy
Should rule her gentle heart!
But when the years of youth have sped,
The bearded man, I trow,
Will quite forget he ever said
He'd be his mamma's beau.
Renounce your treason, little son,
Leave mamma's heart to me;
For there will come another one
To claim your loyalty.
And when that other comes to you,
God grant her love may shine
Through all your life, as fair and true
As mamma's does through mine!
1885.
Eugene Field
3 comments:
I love it!
Such a sweet post-- I was not familiar with this poem, so thanks for sharing it. I love it!
I memorized a poem of Eugene Field's years ago, (and even passed it off to Uncle Jim at the Heber reunion one year!) I had first heard the poem at General Conference in October of 1975. President Monson, who was then a member of the Quorum of the 12, had a prepared talk that day. However, when he stood at the podium to give his address, he saw a little girl in the balcony of the tabernacle that was sitting in a wheelchair. He then broke away from his prepared script and gave a spontaneous talk. He told of a beautiful experience he had had with a young girl battling cancer. Then by memory, he perfectly quoted the poem of Eugene Fields called "Little Boy Blue". That talk has always been one of my favorites. Sometime when you get a minute, I think you'd enjoy it.
wow, I LOVE that poem. Never heard it before, but it's so tender and fun!
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