The Woes of Jasper Parmalee

The Woes Of Jasper Parmalee

Oh! To tell the woes of Jasper Parmalee
Would service no purpose nor require
A steady teen of no luxury
A life of suffering, stoked the fire

An orphaned child, with no solid home
He ran the streets to and fro
Forgotten like a dusted tome
Without a farthing to show

Men would shout as he ran for the door
“Get back here you no good thief!”
Running and running till he could run no more
The shopkeepers had no relief

With apples in hand and bread under arm
He ran through the alleys and dens
Faster he ran meaning no harm
Only stopping now and then

He ran from the village and on down the road
Never even stopping to eat
Then he came to a farm bearing his load
Finally slowing his feet

When he stepped to the yard, the curtain did part
Out came a young mother, with babe in tow
She thanked him and thanked him with all of her heart
He provided the seeds she couldn’t sow

Checking his list, he ran back to town
Craving a wheel of cheese
Hiding in corners as the sun went down
No thoughts of ever charging fees

Finally he spied the wares that he needed
And soon he was off again
A no good orphan, the shop keep pleaded
As the boy ran like the wind

Again a poor family, hiding in shame
Got food to survive the day
And sadly it came at the boy’s good name
But he would have it no other way

A villain to some, and a no good thief
A hero to oh so many other
Providing for them was his one true belief
For in him they had found a brother.