The Poetry Corner

The Funny Little Fellow

By James Whitcomb Riley

'Twas a Funny Little Fellow Of the very purest type, For he had a heart as mellow As an apple over-ripe; And the brightest little twinkle When a funny thing occurred, And the lightest little tinkle Of a laugh you ever heard! His smile was like the glitter Of the sun in tropic lands, And his talk a sweeter twitter Than the swallow understands; Hear him sing - and tell a story - Snap a joke - ignite a pun, - 'Twas a capture - rapture - glory, And explosion - all in one! Though he hadn't any money - That condiment which tends To make a fellow "honey" For the palate of his friends; - Sweet simples he compounded - Sovereign antidotes for sin Or taint, - a faith unbounded That his friends were genuine. He wasn't honored, may be - For his songs of praise were slim, - Yet I never knew a baby That wouldn't crow for him; I never knew a mother But urged a kindly claim Upon him as a brother, At the mention of his name. The sick have ceased their sighing And have even found the grace Of a smile when they were dying As they looked upon his face; And I've seen his eyes of laughter Melt in tears that only ran As though, swift dancing after, Came the Funny Little Man. He laughed away the sorrow, And he laughed away the gloom We are all so prone to borrow From the darkness of the tomb; And he laughed across the ocean Of a happy life, and passed, With a laugh of glad emotion, Into Paradise at last. And I think the Angels knew him, And had gathered to await His coming, and run to him Through the widely-opened Gate - With their faces gleaming sunny For his laughter-loving sake, And thinking, "What a funny Little Angel he will make!"