somewhere. somewhere
in china, where i once travelled
a boy, a tramp,
appeared so contented
in his frost bitten smile,
walked in the dusk wind,
he struck at my heart
like a mellowed violin
so old yet so fine in tune
he danced danced through my soul
even now as i write this verse
young pair of footsteps
jived, twisted, waltzed and twirled over china
leaves that spread themselves to the sun
- wave to me
inspired by
A Barefoot Boy
1 A barefoot boy! I mark him at his play -
2 For May is here once more, and so is he, -
3 His dusty trousers, rolled half to the knee,
4 And his bare ankles grimy, too, as they:
5 Cross-hatchings of the nettle, in array
6 Of feverish stripes, hint vividly to me
7 Of woody pathways winding endlessly
8 Along the creek, where even yesterday
9 He plunged his shrinking body - gasped and shook -
10 Yet called the water 'warm, ' with never lack
11 Of joy. And so, half enviously I look
12 Upon this graceless barefoot and his track, -
13 His toe stubbed - ay, his big toe-nail knocked back
14 Like unto the clasp of an old pocketbook.
James Whitcomb Riley
john tiong chunghoo
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/footsteps-over-china/
