Eugene
Field
The
Poet of Childhood
Eugene
Field was one of America's most popular poets.
He was born in 1850 and died in 1895, and, during his very short
life he wrote more than 300 poems.
But, he was a very special poet. He only wrote poems for children
and was known as the Poet of Childhood.
And, Eugene Field not only knew about children, he loved them as
well.
At
the age of 21, Eugene Field married Julia Sutherland Comstock, and
they had 16 children. And, it was for his children that he wrote
most of his poems, and, night after night they fell asleep to the
rhythm of his work. But, of course, Eugene Field had to work hard to
support his very large family.
And, with his writing skills he became one of America's most popular
newspaper columnists.
But,
it was only in 1876 that Eugene Field started publishing his poetry.
His first book was called A Little Book of Western Verse. It was an
immediate success. But, his most popular
poem was Little Boy Blue, a sad little poem about patient toys
waiting for their little owner who toddled
off to bed and died in his sleep.
And,
sadly, Eugene Field died too early, too. He was only 45 years old.
But, he hasn't been forgotten. In the Midwest of the United States
of America there are more than 100 schools which are named after him.
Eugene Field was a great American and he knew how to write about
feelings, and, that's why Little Boy Blue was his greatest of all.
It was a subject that most understood. It was close to very many
hearts.
And
now, here it is: Little Boy Blue
Little
Boy Blue
by
Eugene Field (1850 – 1895)
The
little toy dog is covered with dust,
But
sturdy and staunch he stands;
And
the little toy soldier is red with rust,
And
his musket moulds in his hands.
Time
- was when the little toy dog was new,
And
the soldier was passing fair;
And
that was the time when our Little Boy Blue
Kissed
them and put them there.
“Now,
don't you go till I come,” he said,
“And
don't you make any noise!”
So,
toddling off to his trundle
bed,
He
dreamt of his pretty toys;
And,
as he was dreaming, an Angel song
Awakened
our Little Boy Blue.
Oh!
the years are many, and the years are long,
But
the little toy friends are true!
And,
faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand,
Each
in the same old place
Awaiting
the touch of a little hand,
And
the smile of a little face;
And
they wonder, as waiting the long years through
In
the dust of that little chair,
What
has become of our Little Boy Blue,
Since
he kissed them and put them there.
...
Vocabulary
-
childhood
– Kindheit -
Gyermekkor
poem
– Gedicht
- Vers
poet
- Dichter-
Költö
support
– unterstützen
- tamogatni
popular
– beliebt
- nepszerü
toddle – (toddle/toddled/toddled) – zotteln
-ingadozo jaras, tipeges /kisgyermeke/
trundle
bed – Rollbett
- Kihuzhato agy
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