Within this house of sober front,
Where dull maturity abides,
A playful, silly, irrepressible
Mischievous boy resides.

He's lived here ever since the time
This aging house was new.
And if you want the house, beware.
The boy comes with it too.

He's a trifle hard to manage
(He may even test the law).
As wild boys are wont to do,
He may sometimes go too far.

He may skip around and thumb his nose,
Or cavort along the hall,
Or tell a silly story
When a preacher comes to call.

He may wake up at 2 a.m.
And sing a song or two,
Or decide that lunch at midnight
Is the perfect thing to do.

The present owner of the house
Would prefer that he'd mature
But finds he must accept the fact
That for boyhood there's no cure.

And with the years, he's come to have
Much affection for the brat.
Some say he's too indulgent.
I can't disagree with that,

For as I've watched the aging house
The dignity of time assume,
I've seen the owner grow inclined
To give the rascally boy more room.

Dominic's Light Verse Sampler is at: http://community.webtv.net/rodomartia/

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