IF I ONLY WAS THE FELLOW
WHILE WALKING DOWN A CROWDED
CITY STREET THE OTHER DAY,
I HEARD A LITTLE URCHIN
TO A COMRADE TURN AND SAY,
"SAY, CHIMMEY, LEMME TELL YOUSE,
I'D BE HAPPY AS A CLAM
IF I ONLY WAS DE FELLER DAT
ME MUDDER T'INKS I AM.
"SHE T'INKS I AM A WONDER,
AN' SHE KNOWS HER LITTLE LAD
COULD NEVER MIX WIT' NUTTIN'
DAT WAS UGLY, MEAN OR BAD.
OH, LOT O' TIMES I SIT AND T'INK
HOW NICE, 'TWOULD BE, GEE WHIZ!
IF A FELLER WAS DE FELLER
THAT HIS MUDDER T'INKS HE IS."
MY FRIENDS, BE YOURS A LIFE OF TOIL
OR UNDILUTED JOY,
YOU CAN LEARN A WHOLESOME LESSON
FROM THAT SMALL, UNTUTORED BOY.
DON'T AIM TO BE AN EARTHLY SAINT,
WITH EYES FIXED ON A STAR:
JUST TRY TO BE THE FELLOW THAT
YOUR MOTHER THINKS YOU ARE.
Will S. Adkin
