Below is the first twenty-three lines to the first in a series of poems about Philip Bunyan — better known as Welterweight Phil — the younger brother to Paul and Peter Bunyan. This first piece tells of Phil’s youth; how he, born in 1850s Maine, grew up middle-sized to his oversized and undersized brothers; how he, being a protective, pugnacious youth, fought for their reputations; and how he, even before beginning upon his life of victorious conquests, won for himself the nickname ‘Welterweight Phil.’
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Forgotten next to most embiggened Paul,
And even not recalled alongside Pete,
The ‘Fosston Dang’ and brother most untall,
Is Philip Bunyan, youngest son of street
In Maine from sprang he nicknamed ‘Welterweight Phil.’
With tallest Paul, of course, none could compete,
And least of all Cordwood Pete; for refill
Of any meal was made impossible
By oh-so simple fact that not until
Paul did his home depart did dinner table
Of Bunyan clan again an offer make
Of seconds; thereafter, some meals stable
Became attainable, but far too late
Were they for middle son of Sr. Paul,
And Pete, because but only years half eight
Behind the giant Jr. Paul, did stall
At size not half the elder brother. Phil,
However, being much younger, was all
Removed from such full stop to his fair fill;
In fact, from lesson sight imparted, he,
Without need, often stole from the small hill
Of Pete’s meal, thusly robbing Peter free
In imitation of Paul. The Bunyan…