A Boyhood Recollection

A Boyhood REcollection
2089

High up on a shelf in the pantry it stood- In fancy I see it again-
A remedy certain to do you much good,
Though fraught with incredible pain
There is nothing in all of the various ills
That mortals are called to endure
From a sty or a stone-bruise to fover and chills
That it wasn’t expected to cure,

Its flavor was that of some lake down below
That the Imps keep eternally hot
If outwardly used, in two minutes ‘twould show
A blister, more likely than not
And when, like a martyr who yields to despair,
You weakened and uttered a yell, The folks would approvingly nod and de clare
“That’s a sign it is making him well”

Though I long for the moments of inno- cent glee
That only a child can enjoy
I always think twice before yearning to be
A careless and frollesome boy,
Though life’s serious cares cause full many an ache,
And hope only leads to dismay,
I’d rather face all such distress than take
One dose from that bottle today