Once upon a time
A boy looked to the sky
Where big white clouds lay furled,
And he muttered with a sigh,
“O,would I were a man!—
How commonplace this world!
Would I could roam and roam,
Where all is strange and new,
Where there are deeds to do,
And find a grand,new home
Where new folks came and went”—
Thus did the boy lament,
Ending as he began,—
“O,would I were a man!”
Once upon a time
A man looked to the sky
Where big,white clouds lay furled,
And he cried with a sigh,
“O,would I were a boy!—
How dear was that old world,
With the dear ones ever close,
Afar from strange,new places
Full of unknown,staring faces,
Unfeeling,and morose.
Give me my home,God-sent!”
Thus did the man lament,
Groaning,“Gone boyhood’s joy!
O,would I were a boy!”