Ben Apfelgarten by Eugene Field
The poem tells the story of a boy who dies after being hit on the head with a baseball bat during a game. The narrator reflects on the boy's life and death, describing his funeral and the impact of his passing on those who knew him.
By Eugene Field · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Social Commentary · 569 words
First lines
There was a certain gentleman, Ben Apfelgarten called, / Who lived way off in Germany a many years ago, / And he was very fortunate in being very bald / And so was very happy he was so. / He warbled all the day / Such songs as only they / Who are very, very circumspect and very happy may; / The people wondered why, / As the years went gliding by, / They never heard him once complain or even heave a sigh!
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Humor — The poem uses satire and comedic elements to explore themes of baldness and societal perceptions.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques societal norms regarding attractiveness and gender dynamics.
- Narrative — The poem tells a story about the life and experiences of Ben Apfelgarten.
Tags
Children's literature · Poetry · Humor · Whimsy · Fantasy · Imagination · Adventure · Youth · Nostalgia · Playful · Lighthearted · Quirky
What this Textopian page supports
Ben Apfelgarten is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Social Commentary, Narrative, Fantasy
- Length: 569 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Ben Apfelgarten by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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