Billy Whittaker
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The poem celebrates the freedom and joy of childhood and mourns the loss of youth. It contrasts the simple pleasures of nature and play with the complexities and constraints of adulthood.
- Female
- October 9, 1995
- Poetry Analyst And Editor
The poem is about a barefoot boy who is both innocent and connected to nature. Nature and innocence are both compared to the world of adults, in which adults have to try to stand out in endless struggles to stand out. The boy is barefoot because the shoes are used to symbolize being further away from nature.
By John Greenleaf Whittier. Blessings on thee, little man, Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan! With thy turned-up pantaloons, And thy merry whistled tunes; With thy red lip, redder still. Kissed by strawberries on the hill; With the sunshine on thy face, Through thy torn brim’s jaunty grace;
Analysis (ai): This poem celebrates the idyllic childhood of a barefoot boy, contrasting its freedom and connection to nature with the constraints and responsibilities of adulthood. It emphasizes the boy's happiness amidst nature's wonders, from the songs of birds to the habits of animals.
“The Barefoot Boy”, As a Representative of Life: The speaker addresses a little boy who is lost in the charm of the summer. The boy is enjoying summer to the fullest with his pants rolled up, whistling a merry tune.
Nov 23, 2012 · http://free-audio-books.info/short-poetry/short-poetry-collection/Short Poetry Collection 011Librivox's Short Poetry Collection 011: a collection of 20 publi...
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Ere it passes, barefoot boy! This poem is in the public domain. John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 1892) was one of the "Fireside Poets," called such because their work was popular enough to be read (ostensibly by the fire) in homes all over America.
