He seemed so strange to me, every way-- <br />In manner, and form, and size, <br />From the boy I knew but yesterday,-- <br />I could hardly believe my eyes! <br /> <br />To hear his name called over there, <br />My memory thrilled with glee <br />And leaped to picture him young and fair <br />In youth, as he used to be. <br /> <br />But looking, only as glad eyes can, <br />For the boy I knew of yore, <br />I smiled on a portly little man <br />I had never seen before!-- <br /> <br />Grave as a judge in courtliness-- <br />Professor-like and bland-- <br />A little fat doctor and nothing less, <br />With his hat in his kimboed hand. <br /> <br />But how we talked old times, and 'chaffed' <br />Each other with 'Minnie' and 'Jim'--- <br />And how the little fat doctor laughed, <br />And how I laughed with him! <br /> <br />'And it's pleasant,' I thought, 'though I yearn to see <br />The face of the youth that was, <br />To know no boy could smile on me <br />As the little fat doctor does!'<br /><br />James Whitcomb Riley<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-little-fat-doctor/
