The Man in the Boy

On the acorn is wrapped the forest,
    In the little brook is the sea;
The twig that will sway with the sparrow to-day
    is to-morrow’s sturdy tree.
There is hope in a mother’s joy,
    Like the peach in its blossom furled;
And a noble boy, a gentle boy,
    A manly boy is the king of the world.

The power that will never fall us
    Is the soul of simple truth;
The oak that defies the stormiest skies
    Was upright in its youth.
The beauty no time can destroy
    In the pure young heart is furled,
And a worthy boy, a tender boy, 
    A faithful boy is king of the world.

The cab of the royal lion
    is regal in his play;
The eaglet’s pride is as fiery-eyed
    As the old bird’s bald and gray!
The nerve that heroes employ
    In the child’s young arm is furled
And a gallant boy, a truthful boy,
    A brave, pure boy is king of the world.