A BOY'S APPEAL.

 I wonder if grown people who have all their growing done

Remember, as they sit at ease¹, that growing isn't fun.

One's legs and arms have separate aches, one's head feels half asleep,

But every day, let come what may, at school one has to keep.

 

And there the teachers never say, "Just study as you please,"

When shooting pains are flying round about a fellow's knees.

Reports say, "Tommy's progress is not what is desired,"

And fathers call you lazy when you're only deadly tired.

 

You have to learn the things you hate; it almost makes you sick,

There's such a lot of grammar, there's so much arithmetic,

The maps and boundaries to draw, the text to get by heart,

And all the while those growing pains to pull your joints² apart!

 

Now skating, and snowballing, and managing a wheel,

Are very, very different things; though tired you may feel,

You manage not to mind it; the time goes rushing so

That you are interested and forget you have to grow.

 

Dear mothers and grandmothers, they seem to understand;

All boys should always meet them, bowing deeply, cap in hand,

For they have sense, and don't expect what fellows cannot do,

Though other people laugh and say, it's all the point of view.

 

But, oh! if grown-up gentlemen with growing safely done,

Would just remember now and then that growing isn't fun,

Perhaps they'd make it easier for boys who'd like to be

A trifle³ brighter, if they could, but are growing just like me.

 

Tommy Traddles.

 

1 ease   

n. 安乐,安逸,悠闲; v. 使...安乐,使...安心,减轻,放松

参考例句：

• His mind was at ease and he felt confident in the future. 他心情舒畅,对前途很有信心。
• You should ease up on the child and stop scolding her. 你应该对那个孩子宽松些,不要再骂她了。

2 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

3 trifle   

n.无价值的东西、问题、行动；v.轻视，小看

参考例句：

• It's senseless to get angry over such a trifle.不值得为这点小事惹气。
• This trifle developed itself into a serious problem.这件小事已发展成一个很严重的问题。