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Edgar Guest - Understanding
Work rating: Low

When I was young and frivolous and never stopped to think, 
When I was always doing wrong, or just upon the brink; 
When I was just a lad of seven and eight and nine and ten, 
It seemed to me that every day I got in trouble then, 
And strangers used to shake their heads and say I was no good,
 But father always stuck to me — it seems he understood.

I used to have to go to him `most every night and say
The dreadful things that I had done to worry folks that day.
I know I didn`t mean to be a turmoil round the place,
And with the womenfolks about forever in disgrace ;
To do the way they said I should, I tried the best I could,
But though they scolded me a lot — my father understood.

He never seemed to think it queer that I should risk my bones, 
Or fight with other boys at times, or pelt a cat with stones; 
An` when I`d break a window pane, it.used to make him sad, 
But though the neighbors said I was, he never thought me bad; 
He never whipped me, as they used to say to me he should; 
That boys can`t always do what`s right — it seemed he understood.

Now there`s that little chap of mine, just full of life and fun, 
Comes up to me with solemn face to tell the bad he`s done.
It`s natural for any boy to be a roguish elf,
He hasn`t time to stop and think and figure for himself, 
And though the womenfolks insist that I should take a hand, 
They`ve never been a boy themselves, and they don`t understand.

Some day I`ve got to go up there, and make a sad report
And tell the Father of us all where I have fallen short; 
And there will be a lot of wrong I never meant to do, 
A lot of smudges on my sheet that He will have to view. 
And little chance for heavenly bliss, up there, will I command, 
Unless the Father smiles and says: " My boy, I understand."
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