The Ballad of Hunter Pope

Hunter Pope of Jamaica Plain, 12-year-old son of Tess and Ken Pope, died on Feb. 15, 2009. The following poem was written by Hunter in Ms. Costa’s 5th-grade advanced work class at the Hennigan School. Donations in his memory to the “Hunter Pope Fund” at Boston Latin Academy, 205 Townsend St., Boston, MA 02121, are welcome.

This here’s the ballad of Hunter the Pope.
He made a world of clay.
Where the people won’t age, and the food won’t rot,
There will be no work, only play.

The world outside is out of their hope,
But the clay is free and ok.
And when things are just too hard in my lot,
I’ll go to the clay and play.

I’ll make a dragon that’s a big darn dope,
And cats that serve tea on a tray.
On their aprons there’s a big opal dot,
Dancing in circles all day.

The world outside is out of their hope.
Bur the clay is free and ok.
And when things are just too hard in my lot,
I’ll go to the clay and play.

The clay is a place where everyone likes to cope.
So when I’m mad, and scream “HEY,”
Like an oven turned on that’s so very hot,
I’ll go to the clay and play.

Like kittens playing on a grassy slope.
My mood turns from ok, to “YAY!”
This clay world of mine, it’s the best thing I’ve got,
So come with me and play.

Hunter Pope

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