By Gargoyle multimedia staff


Posted Monday, April 30, 2007, The OG, arts & features & multimedia

Podcast:

Narrator: Steve Rayburn

Producer: Maddy Hamlin

IN HONOR OF National Poetry Month, we asked English teacher Steve Rayburn to recite his favorite poem, “Little Boy Blue,” by Eugene Field. The poem, which he selected to be published as part of last year's “My favorite poem” series, has also struck a chord with readers, many of whom have similarly fond memories of Fields' work. Rayburn discusses why “Little Boy Blue” is so important to him, and why it might be similarly powerful for other people.

“Little Boy Blue”

The little toy dog is covered with dust,
But sturdy and stanch 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 the pretty toys;
And, as he was dreaming, an angel song
Awakened our Little Boy Blue —
Oh! the years are many, the years are long,
But the little toy friends are true!

Ay, faithful to Little Boy Blue they stand,
Each in the same old place —
Awaiting the touch of a little hand,
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.

RELATED

— Gargoyle archive: My favorite poem: Steve Rayburn's selection

— Gargoyle archive: My favorite poem: Suzanne Linder's selection

— Gargoyle archive: My favorite poem: Rosemary Laughlin's selection

— Gargoyle archive: One of my favorite poems: Elizabeth Majerus' selection

— Gargoyle archive: A poem I like a lot: Matt Mitchell's selection

— External link: Academy of American Poets: National Poetry Month site