Note from Joe: The 3rd verse is horrifying. If you wonder what on earth Eugene Field was thinking, please read on.The bumper sticker that says "Imagine World Peace" is nice, but there is another bumper sticker that is far more effective at motivating people to actually WORK for world peace, and that is the bumper sticker that says, "Imagine World War". Although that sticker seems cruel and evil at first glance, the truth is that if more people spent more time deeply contemplating the true horrors of war, and seeing it vividly in their mind's eye, they'd be more vigilant in preventing it.
That logic explains the following poem. Although it seems inexcusably cruel the first time you read it, the truth is that it is horrifying thoughts like these that can strongly motivate parents to raise their children to be upright ladies and gentlemen, instead of letting them grow up like weeds without proper moral training, and wind up in prison or worse.
He sleeps, my darling baby boy,
My life, my hope, my sweetest joy!
How like a budding, blushing rose
His tiny mouth, now in repose!
How white his chubby, dimpled fists,
How plump and creased his baby wrists !
His little neck, how soft and sleek,
His chubby legs, how childish weak!
How sweet to gaze on baby's face
And dream of future manhood days.
Who knows but in the time to be
His form shall grace the gallows tree?
Then shall his eyes so pure and bright
Be veiled by cap as black as night;
Then shall his tiny hands, alack!
Be strapped behind his sturdy back!
Then shall his chubby legs be bound
With cruel hempen cords around,
Then shall his neck so white and fair,
By brutal hands be laid all bare,
A ruthless noose adjusted here
Below his tiny, shell-like ear!
How sweet to gaze on baby's face
And dream of future manhood days!