Plea for the Boys

Young men must work, and old men rest, They have earned their quiet joys; And everywhere, from east to west, The boys must still be boys.

They do not want your larger sight, Nor want your wisdom grim: The boy has right to the boy’s delight, And play is the work for him.

The idle day is the evil day, And work in its time is right; But he that wrestles best in the play Will wrestle best in the fight.

Then do not, as their hour runs by, Their harmless pleasures clip; For he that sails his kite to the sky May sometime sail a ship.

And soon enough the years will steal Their mood of frolic joys; So keep your shoulder to the wheel, And let the boys be boys.