Little Bateese Analysis

1You bad leetle boy, not moche you care
2How busy you 're kipin' your poor gran'pere
3Tryin' to stop you ev'ry day
4Chasin' de hen aroun' de hay--
5W'y don't you geev' dem a chance to lay?
6Leetle Bateese!

7Off on de fiel' you foller de plough
8Den w'en you 're tire you scare the cow
9Sickin' de dog till dey jomp the wall
10So de milk ain't good for not'ing at all--
11An' you 're only five an' a half dis fall,
12Leetle Bateese!

13Too sleepy for sayin' de prayer to-night?
14Never min' I s'pose it 'll be all right
15Say dem to-morrow--ah! dere he go!
16Fas' asleep in a minute or so--
17An' he 'll stay lak dat till de rooster crow,
18Leetle Bateese!

19Den wake us up right away toute suite
20Lookin' for somet'ing more to eat,
21Makin' me t'ink of dem long leg crane
22Soon as dey swaller, dey start again,
23I wonder your stomach don't get no pain,
24Leetle Bateese!

25But see heem now lyin' dere in bed,
26Look at de arm onderneat' hees head;
27If he grow lak dat till he 's twenty year
28I bet he 'll be stronger dan Louis Cyr
29An' beat all de voyageurs leevin' here,
30Leetle Bateese!

31Jus' feel de muscle along hees back,
32Won't geev' heem moche bodder for carry pack
33On de long portage, any size canoe,
34Dere 's not many t'ing dat boy won't do
35For he 's got double-joint on hees body too,
36Leetle Bateese!

37But leetle Bateese! please don't forget
38We rader you 're stayin' de small boy yet,
39So chase de chicken an' mak' dem scare
40An' do w'at you lak wit' your ole gran'pere
41For w'en you 're beeg feller he won't be dere--
42Leetle Bateese!

.: :.

Little Bateese is a remarkable story about a close knit family, the love and pride of a grandfather for his grandson, and the poignant, almost sudden, realization and acceptance by the grandfather of his won mortality. The grandfather recounts the irritating little exploits of Little Bateese and then almost audibly softens and probably smiles as he gazes down on the sleeping child. He is filled with pride as he imagines the strength and ability this remarkabble little boy will have as he grows to manhood. The suddenly he realizes he will never live to see his grandson carry that canoe on that long portage so he forgives his grandson his litt;e misdeeds. A wonderful story.


| Posted on 2006-03-09 | by Approved Guest