Poor Kid

Read 'Poor Kid' by 'Robert William Service' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

Poor Kid by Robert William Service

 Mumsie and Dad are raven dark
 And I am lily blonde.
''Tis strange,' I once heard nurse remark,
 'You do not correspond.'
And yet they claim me as their own,
 Born of their flesh and bone.

To doubt their parenthood I dread,
 But now to girlhood grown,
The thought is haunting in my head
 That I am not their own:
If so, my radiant bloom of youth
 Would wither in the truth.

'Twould give me anguish deep to know
 A fondling babe was I;
And that a maid in wedless woe
 Left me to live or die:
I'd rather Mother lied and lied
 To save my pride.

I love them both and they love me;
 I am their all, they say.
Yet though the sweetest home have we,
 To know I'm theirs I pray.
If not, please dear ones, never tell . . .
 The truth would be of hell.

Form: Lyric Comments

Comments About This Poem

Share your interpretation, favorite passage, or thoughts about this famous poem. Please provide an in-depth and meaningful comment.

  • What do you think the poet was trying to say?
  • Which line had the biggest impact on you?
  • How does this poem relate to modern life?
  • What literary devices did you notice?
No comments have been posted yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace