The Lame Brother

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Title:     The Lame Brother
Author: Charles Lamb [More Titles by Lamb]

My parents sleep both in one grave;
My only friend's a brother.
The dearest things upon the earth
We are to one another.

A fine stout boy I knew him once,
With active form and limb;
Whene'er he leap'd, or jump'd, or ran,
O I was proud of him!

He leap'd too far, he got a hurt,
He now does limping go.--
When I think on his active days,
My heart is full of woe.

He leans on me, when we to school
Do every morning walk;
I cheer him on his weary way,
He loves to hear my talk:

The theme of which is mostly this,
What things he once could do.
He listens pleas'd--then sadly says,
"Sister, I lean on you."

Then I reply, "Indeed you're not
Scarce any weight at all.--
And let us now still younger years
To memory recall.

"Led by your little elder hand,
I learn'd to walk alone;
Careful you us'd to be of me,
My little brother John.

"How often, when my young feet tir'd,
You've carried me a mile!--
And still together we can sit,
And rest a little while.

"For our kind master never minds,
If we're the very last;
He bids us never tire ourselves
With walking on too fast."

[The end]
Charles Lamb's poem: Lame Brother

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