The Barefoot Boy
Blessings on thee, little man,
Barefoot boy, with cheek of tan!
With thy turned-up pantaloons,
And thy merry whistled tunes;
With thy red lip, redder still
Kissed by strawberries on the hill;
With the sunshine on thy face,
Through thy torn brim's jaunty grace;
From my heart I give thee joy, -
I was once a barefoot boy!
Prince thou art, - the grown-up man
Only is republican.
Let the million-dollared ride!
Barefoot, trudging at his side,
Thou hast more than he can buy
In the reach of ear and eye, -
Outward sunshine, inward joy:
Blessings on thee, barefoot boy!
Oh for boyhood's painless play,
Sleep that wakes in laughing day,
Health that mocks the doctor's rules,
Knowledge never learned of schools,
Of the wild bee's morning chase,
Of the wild-flower's time and place,
Flight of fowl and habitude
Of the tenants of the wood;
How the tortoise bears his shell,
How the woodchuck digs his cell,
And the ground-mole sinks his well;
How the robin feeds her young,
How the oriole's nest is hung;
Where the whitest lilies blow,
Where the freshest berries grow,
Where the ground-nut trails its vine,
Where the wood-grape's clusters shine;
Of the black wasp's cunning way,
Mason of his walls of clay,
And the architectural plans
Of gray hornet artisans!
For, eschewing books and tasks,
Nature answers all he asks;
Hand in hand with her he walks,
Face to face with her he talks,
Part and parcel of her joy, -
Blessings on the barefoot boy!
Oh for boyhood's time of June,
Crowding years in one brief moon,
When all things I heard or saw,
Me, their master, waited for.
I was rich in flowers and trees,
Humming-birds and honey-bees;
For my sport the squirrel played,
Plied the snouted mole his spade;
For my taste the blackberry cone
Purpled over hedge and stone;
Laughed the brook for my delight
Through the day and through the night,
Whispering at the garden wall,
Talked with me from fall to fall;
Mine the sand-rimmed pickerel pond,
Mine the walnut slopes beyond,
Mine, on bending orchard trees,
Apples of Hesperides!
Still as my horizon grew,
Larger grew my riches too;
All the world I saw or knew
Seemed a complex Chinese toy,
Fashioned for a barefoot boy!
Oh for festal dainties spread,
Like my bowl of milk and bread;
Pewter spoon and bowl of wood,
On the door-stone, gray and rude!
O'er me, like a regal tent,
Cloudy-ribbed, the sunset bent,
Purple-curtained, fringed with gold,
Looped in many a wind-swung fold;
While for music came the play
Of the pied frogs' orchestra;
And, to light the noisy choir,
Lit the fly his lamp of fire.
I was monarch: pomp and joy
Waited on the barefoot boy!
Cheerily, then, my little man,
Live and laugh, as boyhood can!
Though the flinty slopes be hard,
Stubble-speared the new-mown sward,
Every morn shall lead thee through
Fresh baptisms of the dew;
Every evening from thy feet
Shall the cool wind kiss the heat:
All too soon these feet must hide
In the prison cells of pride,
Lose the freedom of the sod,
Like a colt's for work be shod,
Made to tread the mills of toil,
Up and down in ceaseless moil:
Happy if their track be found
Never on forbidden ground;
Happy if they sink not in
Quick and treacherous sands of sin.
Ah! that thou couldst know thy joy,
Ere it passes, barefoot boy!
poem by John Greenleaf Whittier
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Related quotes
She Walked Barefoot...
she walked barefoot,
across them factory floors,
down that gravel road,
across the yard,
and into that old house.
she walked barefoot,
across them kitchen floors,
down that long hallway,
across the floor to the bed.
she walked barefoot,
between them garden rows,
out in the fields,
down through the pines
to the creek.
she walked barefoot,
down them hospital halls,
down the aisles of the church,
out in the cementary
to the grave...
she walked barefoot,
into the arms of eternity,
and i'd give all i am
to wash her feet
with my tears!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Baby baby barefoot I am
Surrender survive
Name delusion rhyme
Pretender revive
In no no mode time
No think no heart
No melody shine
Baby baby barefoot I am
D d d dance
Barefoot I am
Be whatever wherever whenever
Rhythm blast forever cast
Drowned in devotion
Be whoever whyever reason of never
To love me to go with me
My time is loloways now
Swallowed by an ocean
Baby baby barefoot I am
D d d dance
Barefoot I am
Flower bloomed sublime
Will give it up all
If you touch my feet
Name delusion rhyme
Sound of an empty hall
Rushing back to the street
Baby baby barefoot I am
D d d dance
Barefoot I am
©Miroslava Odalović
poem by Miroslava Odalovic
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A Song Of Riches
What will you give to a barefoot lass,
Morning with breath like wine?
Wade, bare feet! In my wide morass
Starry marigolds shine.
Alms, sweet Noon, for a barefoot lass,
With her laughing looks aglow!
Run, bare feet! In my fragrant grass
Golden buttercups blow.
Gift, a gift for a barefoot lass,
O twilight hour of dreams!
Rest, bare feet, by my lake of glass,
Where the mirrored sunset gleams.
Homeward the weary merchants pass,
With the gold bedimmed by care.
Little they wise that the barefoot lass
Is the only millionaire.
poem by Katharine Lee Bates
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Barefoot Ballad
(words & music by fuller - morris)
I want a barefoot ballad yes a barefoot ballad
Wont you play for me a down home country song
cause when I kick my shoes off and I kick my blues off
With a barefoot ballad you just cant go wrong
Give me a honk-tonk fiddle with a guitar in the middle and a melody
Humming like a fountain swinging out on smokey mountain
I want a barefoot ballad yes a barefoot ballad
Wont you play for me a down home country song
cause when I kick my shoes off and I kick my blues off
With a barefoot ballad you just cant go wrong
Now the big toes connected to the two toe
And the two toes connected to the three toe
And the three toes connected to the four toe
And the four toes connected to the five toe
And the five toe and away we go
I want a barefoot ballad yes a barefoot ballad
Wont you play for me a down home country song
cause when I kick my shoes off and I kick my blues off
With a barefoot ballad you just cant go wrong
Now the big toes connected to the two toe
And the two toes connected to the three toe
And the three toes connected to the four toe
And the four toes connected to the five toe
And the five toe and away we go
I wanna barefoot ballad yes a barefoot ballad
Wont you play for me a barefoot ballad song.
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Do The Clam
(words & music by wayne - weisman - fuller)
Hey everybody gather round
Listen to that bongo sound
Grab the first one in your reach
Now were going to shake the beach
Do the clam, do the clam
Grab your barefoot baby by the hand
Turn and tease, hug and squeeze
Dig right in and do the clam
You can get your heart to spin
On the outside looking in
Moon aint gonna last all night
Well lets work up an appetite
Do the clam, do the clam
Grab your barefoot baby by the hand
Turn and tease, hug and squeeze
Dig right in and do the clam
Everybodys got that beat
Well listen to those happy feet
Aint you glad that you found out
What the clam is all about
Do the clam, do the clam
Grab your barefoot baby by the hand
Turn and tease, hug and squeeze
Dig right in and do the clam
Do the clam, do the clam
Grab your barefoot baby by the hand
Turn and tease, hug and squeeze
Dig right in and do the clam
Dig right in and do the clam
song performed by by Elvis Presley
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Barefoot In Beverly Hills
Still walkin barefoot, still walkin barefoot, still,
Still walkin barefoot, in beverly hills,
Still walkin barefoot still, in beverly hills,
I can walk on the stone, I can walk on the grass,
Im walkin all over this earth,
I can walk on the line, I can walk on the edge,
Im walkin all over this earth,
I can walk on low, I can walk on high,
Im walkin all over this earth,
And, I can walk on the grass, I can walk on the grass,
And walk on, you name it.
Still walkin barefoot, in beverly hills,
Still walkin barefoot still, in beverly hills,
(? )
I keep my feet from burning up,
For years I walked back beat,
With anything under my feet,
An immunity to heat,
An immunity to heat,
And walk on, you name it.
Still walkin barefoot, in beverly hills,
Still walkin barefoot still, in beverly hills,
Still walkin barefoot, in beverly hills,
Still walkin barefoot still, in beverly hills,
An immunity to heat.
Still walkin barefoot, in beverly hills,
Im still walkin barefoot still, in beverly hills,
Still walkin barefoot, in beverly hills,
Still walkin barefoot still, in beverly hills, (x2)
Oh for years I walked back beat,
All the years have gone to my feet,
Ive walked in the tall grass?
An immunity to heat.
song performed by by Grace Jones
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dancing Barefoot
She is benediction - she is addicted to thee
She is the root connection - she is connecting with thee
She is sublimation - she is the essence of thee
She is concentrating on he , chosen she
Im dancing barefoot, heading for a spin
Some strange music draws me in
Makes me come on like some heroine
She is recreation - shes intoxicated by thee
She has the slow sensation that he is levitating with she
Here I go, well I dont know why
I float so ceaselessly
Could it be hes taken over me
Im dancing barefoot, in mid-air I spin
Some strange music draws me in
Makes me come on like some heroine
Im dancing barefoot, heading for a spin
Some strange music draws me in
Makes me come on like some heroine
song performed by by Xymox
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Barefoot Children
Scratch my back with a lightning bolt
Thunder rolls like a bass drum note
The sound of the weather is heaven's rag time band
We all fell down from the milky way
Hanging round here 'till judgment day
Heaven only knows who's in command
Chorus
Barefoot children in the rain
Got no need to explain
We'd be swinging on a ball and chain
It's always understood by those who play the game
Barefoot children in the rain
Show me yours and I'll show you mine
Take me back to days full with monkey shine's
Bouncing on a bubble full of trouble in the summer sun
Keep your raft from the riverboat
Fiction over fact always has my vote
And wrinkles only go where the smiles have been
Chorus
Barefoot children in the rain
Got no need to explain
We'd be swinging on a ball and chain
It's always understood by those who play the game
Barefoot children in the rain
la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Barefoot children in the rain
Scratch my back with a lightning bolt
Thunder rolls like a bass drum note
The sound of the weather is heaven's rag time band
The sky turns blue and the sun appears
But the question's still "what are we doing here?"
I don't think the answer's close at hand
Chorus
Barefoot children in the rain
Got no need to explain
We'd be swinging on a ball and chain
It's always understood by those who play the game
Barefoot children in the rain
in the rain
in the rain
song performed by by Jimmy Buffett
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Barefoot Children In The Rain
Scratch my back with a lightning bolt
Thunder rolls like a bass drum note
The sound of the weather is heavens ragtime band
We all fell down from the milky way
Hangin round here till judgment day
Heaven only knows whos in command
Barefoot children in the rain
Got no need to explain
Wed be swingin on a ball and chain
Its always understood by those who play the game
Barefoot children in the rain
Show me yours and Ill show you mine
Take me back to days full of monkeyshines
Bouncin on a bubble full of trouble in the summer sun
Keep your raft from the riverboat
Fiction over fact always has my vote
And wrinkles only go where the smiles have been
Barefoot children in the rain
Got no need to explain
Wed be swingin on a ball and chain
Its always understood by those who play the game
Barefoot children in the rain
La la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la la
Barefoot children in the rain
Scratch my back with a lightning bolt
Thunder rolls like a bass drum note
The sound of the weather is heavens ragtime band
The sky turns blue and the sun appears
But the questions still what are we doin here
I dont think the answers close at hand
Barefoot children in the rain
Got no need to explain
Wed be swingin on a ball and chain
Its always understood by those who play the game
Barefoot children in the rain
In the rain...
In the rain...
song performed by by Jimmy Buffett
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dancing Barefoot
(patti smith)
She is benediction
She is addicted to thee
She is the root connection
She is connecting with he
Here I go and I dont know why
I fell so ceaselessly
Could it be hes taking over me...
Im dancing barefoot
Heading for a spin
Some strange music draws me in
Makes me come on like some heroin
She is sublimation
She is the essence of thee
She is concentrating on
He, who is chosen by she
Here I go and I dont know why
I spin so ceaselessly,
Could it be hes taking over me...
Im dancing barefoot
Heading for a spin
Some strange music draws me in
Makes me come on like some heroin
She is recreation
She, intoxicated by thee
She has the slow sensation that
He is levitating with she ...
Here I go and I dont know why,
I spin so ceaselessly,
til I lose my sense of gravity...
Im dancing barefoot
Heading for a spin
Some strange music draws me in
Makes me come on like some heroin
song performed by by Waterboys
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Eviction
Unruly tenant of my heart,
Full fain would I be quit of thee.
I've played too long a losing part.
Thou bringest me neither gold nor fee.
'Tis time thou shouldst thy holding yield,
Thy will and mine no longer meet.
With cockle hast thou sowed my field,
With squanderings all the public street.
Thy presence doth disturb my pride.
Let me be owner of my own.
I fling thee with thy goods outside
And bar re--entry with a stone.
Begone and hide thee from my face.
I will not see thee chiding there.
Away, to live in my disgrace!
Away, to die in thy despair!
O impotence of human wit!
The law is mine, the fault in thee,
And yet in vain I serve the writ,
In vain I scourge thee with decree.
For lo, in stillness of the night,
O'erturning stone and guard and door,
Thou art come with thy lost tenant--right
And hast possession as before.
poem by Wilfrid Scawen Blunt
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Dancing Barefoot
She is benediction
She is addicted to he
She is the root connection and
She is connecting with me
Here I go and I don't know why
I spin so ceaselessly
Could it be he's taking over me
I'm dancing barefoot
Headed for a spin
Some strange music drags me in
It makes me come up like some heroine
She is sublimation
She is the essence of thee
She is concentrating on
He who is chosen by she
Here I go when I don't know why
I spin so ceaselessly
Could it be he's taking over me
I'm dancing barefoot
Headed for a spin
Some strange strange music drags me in
It makes me come up like some heroine
She is recreation
She intoxicated by thee
She has the slow sensation that
He is levitating with she
Here I go when I don't know why
I spin so ceaselessly
'Til I lose my sense of gravity
I'm dancing barefoot
Heading for a spin
Some strange music drives me on
Makes me come up like some heroine
Oh God I feel for you
Oh God I feel for you
Oh God I feel for you
Oh God I feel for you
song performed by by U2
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Dancing Barefoot
She is benediction
She is addicted to he
She is the root connection
She is connecting with me
Here I go and I dont know why
I spin so ceaselessly
Could it be hes taking over me
Im dancing barefoot
Headed for a spin
Some strange music drags me in
It makes me come up
Like some heroine
She is sublimation
She is the essence of thee
She is concentrating on
He who is chosen by she
Here I go when I dont know why
I spin so ceaselessly
Could it be hes taking over me
Im dancing barefoot
Headed for a spin
Some strange music drags me in
It makes me come up
Like some heroine
She is recreation
She intoxicated by thee
She has the slow sensation that
He is levitating with she
Here I go when I dont know why
I spin so ceaselessly
til I lose my sense of gravity
Im dancing barefoot
Heading for a spin
Some strange music drives me on
Makes me come up
Like some heroine
Oh god, I fell for you
Oh god, I fell for you
Oh god, I fell for you
Oh god, I fell for you
song performed by by Jewel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Coming from a farming background, I saw nothing out of the ordinary in running barefoot, although it seemed to startle the rest of the athletics world. I have always enjoyed going barefoot and when I was growing up I seldom wore shoes, even when I went into town.
Automatic writing
sometimes there is too much of a nature in what you do
and too little of the mind
like an Id without a mandala
get swallowed by the uncontrollable currents
at the moment when you forget
because you want to forget
you are the boss there
and whatever you do
you do it unto yourself
the world's got nothing to do with that
which why I sometimes 'hate' you
it reminds me of those moments in myself
I am trying to a-void
because I've experienced
that walking barefoot on ice
and walking barefoot on a heated asphalt
is the same things
feet burn in both cases
why do you want to burn
poem by Miroslava Odalovic
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On Her Way To Afternoon
The morn' arrived barefoot
With words of the Dawn upon her breath
Sunrise clinged tight with its fingers
And the green grass prepared for the dews death;
Waves of many barefoot clouds were above us
Her words shined as jewels from her mouth
Sunrise broke open the shores of this beautiful day
And the green lawn became queen of the South;
In the air there were many a barefoot dragonfly
As her words became more fluid and then
Sunrise called to the mid of day
And the green lawn asked afternoon to begin;
The Essence
October 1,2010
poem by Theodora Onken
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The Curse of Kehama
I charm thy life,
From the weapons of strife,
From stone and from wood,
From fire and from flood,
From the serpent’s tooth,
And the beast of blood.
From sickness I charm thee,
And time shall not harm thee;
But earth, which is mine,
Its fruits shall deny thee;
And water shall hear me,
And know thee and flee thee:
And the winds shall not touch thee
When they pass by thee,
And the dews shall not wet thee
When they fall nigh thee.
And thou shalt seek death,
To release thee, in vain;
Thou shalt live in thy pain,
While Kehama shall reign,
With a fire in thy heart,
And a fire in thy brain.
And sleep shall obey me,
And visit thee never,
And the curse shall be on thee
Forever and ever.
poem by Robert Southey
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Everybodys Sweetheart
When I told my baby
Do what you wanna do
Well I had no idea
Just what shed put me through
Every night shes runnin round
Singin songs in your hometown
There aint no one to love me
When the sun goes down
Chorus:
Well, shes everybodys sweetheart
Everybodys sweetheart but mine
I shoulda kept her barefoot
Barefoot and pregnant all the time
I used to be the first in line
Now Ive fallen way behind
Shes everybodys sweetheart
Everybodys sweetheart but mine
All that country club money
Lord it sure looked good to me... yeah it did
Playin golf with those fat cats
How much better could life be
They all think Ive got it made
They see your face on every page
Of every magazine
Across the usa
Chorus
If you see her tell her hi
And everything will be all right
Tell her that I love her
til the day I die
Chorus
Come on home
song performed by by Vince Gill
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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To Mary
If I had thought thou couldst have died,
I might not weep for thee;
But I forgot, when by thy side,
That thou couldst mortal be:
It never through my mind had past
The time would e'er be o'er,
And I on thee should look my last,
And thou shouldst smile no more!
And still upon that face I look,
And think 'twill smile again;
And still the thought I will not brook,
That I must look in vain.
But when I speak—thou dost not say
What thou ne'er left'st unsaid;
And now I feel, as well I may,
Sweet Mary, thou art dead!
If thou wouldst stay, e'en as thou art,
All cold and all serene—
I still might press thy silent heart,
And where thy smiles have been.
While e'en thy chill, bleak corse I have,
Thou seemest still mine own;
But there—I lay thee in thy grave,
And I am now alone!
I do not think, where'er thou art,
Thou hast forgotten me;
And I, perhaps, may soothe this heart
In thinking too of thee:
Yet there was round thee such a dawn
Of light ne'er seen before,
As fancy never could have drawn,
And never can restore!
poem by Charles Wolfe
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Dance in the Evening
I dance in the evening with wild abandon
when there is no one around.
I dance to the music I hear in my head
barefoot on the ground.
I dance in my dreams like a ballerina
and never miss a step.
I twist, I spin and leap in the air
and it feels so heavenly.
But when the evening is over
and I awaken from sleep at night
I plod through the day with heavy feet,
never with feet so light.
poem by Edwina Reizer
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