Mr Waldo's Song by Dylan Thomas
The narrative revolves around a young boy who escapes into fantasy to cope with the harsh realities of his life. His imagination allows him to create an alternate world where he can temporarily escape the difficulties and hardships he faces in reality.
By Dylan Thomas · First published 1949 · Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Social Commentary · 245 words
First lines
In Pembroke City when I was young I lived by the Castle Keep Sixpence a week was my wages For working for the chimbley sweep.
Six cold pennies he gave me Not a farthing more or less And all the fare I could afford Was parsnip gin and watercress.
I did not need a knife and fork
Or a bib up to my chin To dine on a dish of watercress And a jug of parsnip gin.
What this Textopian page supports
Mr Waldo's Song is listed on Textopian as a poem by Dylan Thomas, dated 1949 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Dylan Thomas
- Date: 1949 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Social Commentary, Historical, Children's Literature
- Length: 245 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mr Waldo's Song by Dylan Thomas
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Fiction — The narrative presents a fictional account of a young chimney sweep's life.
- Social Commentary — The themes address social issues such as poverty and child labor.
- Historical — The setting and context suggest a historical period when chimney sweeping was common.
Tags
Poetry · Verse · Narrative · Autobiographical · Biographical · Memoir · Short Story · Fictionalized Memoir · Literary Fiction · Experimental · Stream-of-Consciousness · Modernist