The Astonishing Robert Wadlow

The gentle giant died in 1940.

The Astonishing Robert Wadlow

 

By Elton Camp

 

At Robert’s birth, his family smiled

As they welcome an 8.5 pound child

 

But soon any real normalcy was gone

His pituitary made too much hormone

 

Doctors of the time couldn’t do a thing

So an acceleration in growth it did bring

 

At eight years old, he was six feet tall

While other third graders were small

 

Finally, he lacked an inch being nine feet

Many house ceilings his head would meet

 

Despite many hardships, he did all he could

To maintain a degree of normal childhood

 

Matchbooks and stamps Robert collected

And to join the Boy Scouts he elected

 

But he had so little sensation in his big feet

Eventually at an infection his death did meet

 

Despite his size, he was a man gentle and kind

Even  today, his hometown keeps him in mind