Sunday, September 20, 2009

Babies Don't Keep

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo.
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew,
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo.
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo,
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

-by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

I never get tired of reading this poem! Just wanted to share!

7 comments:

susan said...

with loads of trouble with one of my teens... your poem could not be more pertinent.
ENJOY your children while you can....... I'm off to give snuggles and maybe slip them a treat. xxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

Oh, so true!

Sarah said...

Thanks for the reminder - needed it this morning!

jenny said...

My mom did a cross-stich of this poem when she was pregnant with me, she gave it to me to put in our nursery. Love it...it is so priceless.

Kim said...

This is the sweetest poem, I absolutely love it! Thank you so much for sharing. I needed this one today.

Katie@The Baby Factory said...

Okay, so I totally love that poem, and haven't heard it in a long long time! Thanks for the tears...it is so sweet!
I was just wondering through your blog, and its so fun to find other 'moms of multiples' in the bloggy world.
Your girls are adorable!!
So is your blog :)

Amy@My Front Porch said...

Oh I love this poem! And how fitting that I would read it on my baby girl's first birthday! *tear* Thanks for sharing :)