Babies Don’t Keep

[hbee]

by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

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,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

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 his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye 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.

[hbee]

My grandma told me about this poem today... after I apologized for my "shocking" house.

[BrandNewMama]

Love this...and so true!!

[Courtneymomof2]

so sweet, and so true, and a little sad all at the same time!

[Girl Butt]

They sure don't. I have an 11 y.o. and it seems like yesterday...

[MyPerfectLife]

[Tippytoe]

Awww. I love this. I couldn't have stumbled upon it at a more perfect time <3.

[Aleesh_Mom]

always makes me cry!

[Nicolenutt]

Love this