John George Brown, American
“Hey Look, Invisible Man! I Found Your Dog!,” 1876
Oil on panel
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MASTERPIECE #3413
Info about this artist is pointed to by links in my comment at another blog entry.
/// Barefoot urchin who dresses in rags—
when he’s fielding his confidence sags.
Their best batter just hit
a pop fly. (There’s no mitt,
so with bare hands these baseballs he snags.)
/// From the jaws of defeat he can snatch
a great victory with A Sure Catch.
The boy’s team need not fall
if he grabs this last ball.
Is he nervous? Just look at him. Natch!
/// He is frozen with shyness and fear.
This has not been his very best year,
but with luck he could be
this big game’s MVP.
He looks up at the falling white sphere.
/// From the crowd comes a muscular shout.
Does this mean that he caught the third out?
Or else bobbled the ball
and allowed it to fall?
Choose your preference, the outcome’s in doubt.
/// Ragged Dickie waits for Ma to throw
baby sister to him down below.
Their old tenement’s burning,
and his stomach is churning.
He looks up at the flick’ring red glow.
/// Rags to Riches: *Horatio’s pitch.
Bootblack works hard and then, in a switch,
he gets good paying work
as a mercantile clerk.
Ragged Dick became Richard, (and rich).
*Horatio Alger