I was once a little imp that roamed the street
And thought I was a giant a
at three feet
Only I was small and shy as a fly that I recall
A teeny-weeny with nothing of fancy to show at all
I was forbidden to swim without notice the Tanjay River
Never even in company of children my age hither
But inside my head I heard the voice of a fiend
And off I went to the river in high tide with a friend
We're soon swimming amid laughters and shouts
The water was green and so deep no doubt
"Don't cross the river if you can't swim the tide!"
I remember Mama's words each time I took a dive
The sun was at arm's reach when we called it a day
I was soaked to the bones and my spirit in fray
Now loom the prospect of getting soaped after a swim
I knew too late it never pays to do things on a whim
At home my Mama scowled at the top of her voice
Her wrath I wanted to escape but I had no choice
A twig she held in her hand was meant for my butt
For breaking a rule she turned mean I lost my gut
In a flash I saw the whip coming so I ducked and run
She yelled "Virgilioooo!!! come here you son of a gun!"
For I feared her ill temper more than the slim twig
Under the bed I scampered with fright and hid
My mother gave me five lashes and in pain I cried
I can't keep my tears from rolling though I tried
Some lessons are bitter pills I had to swallow
To show the right path I must follow