THE HEART OF A BOY

THE HEART OF A BOY

At times when I am in the mood

To sort o' reminisce;

My thoughts go back to my yesterdays,

Their sorrows or their bliss.

I span the years to childhood,

Through more than three-score years;

And I am just a boy again,

Without grave doubts and fears.

Those days, I longed for manhood’s state

When I’d be big and strong;

I’d conquer ev’ry obstacle,

And in my heart a song.

I’d climb the heights with valor true,

I’d help the erring, weak:

And in my heart I fondly b’lieved

I’d find what e’er I’d seek.

I'd right the wrongs, I’d feed the poor,

I'd evil put to route;

I'd help the poor unfortunates,

All prejudice shut out.

I'd fix my gaze upon a star,

A life of service planned;

Each falt’ring one with fervent hope

Take firmly by the hand.

But somehow as the years rolled on

And boyhood left behind;

Along the way I’d lost the mark,

And nowhere I could find

The spark that lit those boyhood hours

And plainly marked the way,

And filled my soul with confidence

And turned night into day.

And now, I’m nearing sixty-eight;

With wistful, yearning heart

Recheck a host of “Might Have Beens”,

And memory imparts

No answer, dim, not understood,

But knowing it is there;

Yet, all too little I can see,

As on a winding stair.

Could I be granted one fond wish

To cheer my jaded soul;

To overcome each circumstance

That hides the visioned goal;

Then I would say, Give back to me

That priceless, bubbling joy;

That thrilling, pulsing, constant faith,

The glad heart of a boy.

HBA- 5/30/54

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