A Young Patriot

Little Sammy Simmons started in today

To celebrate the Fourth in his very own way.

He had thumbs a pair, and he had fingers eight,

But hasn’t now as many, I’m sorry to relate.

He had a little cannon which at dawn he tried to fix;

It went off prematurely, and then he had but six.

They fixed him up, then Sammy was very much alive;

He dropped his father’s pistol, and then he had but five.

But Sammy was patriotic, he stole out through the door,

And monkeyed with a chaser, and then he had but four.

They locked him in his chamber; the porch they didn’t see;

He found a cannon cracker, and then he had but three.

He tried to stop a rocket before it upward flew,

Alas! It wouldn’t linger, and then he had but two.

With two he reached the village to mingle in the fun;

A set-off box exploded, and Sammy had but one.

But Sammy, nothing daunted, remained as he’s begun;

He tried to stop a pinwheel, and then he counted none.

But Sammy’s patriotic, is looking forward now

To coming celebrations with joy upon his brow.

June 30, ‘09