The Blind Boxer

He goes with basket, and slow feet,

To sell his nuts from street to street;

The very terror of his kind,

Till blackened eyes had made him blind.

Ay, this is Boxer Bob, the man

That had hard muscles harder than

A schoolboy’s bones; who held his ground

When six tall bullies sparred around,

Small children now, that have no grace,

Can steal his nuts before his face;

And, when he threatens with his hands,

Mock him two feet from where he stands;

Mock him who could, some years ago,

Have leapt five feet to strike a blow.