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,
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.
– Ruth Hulbert Hamilton “Song for a Fifth Child” (but, in this case, fourth…)
Happy Birthday, Baby Liam…
Happy Birthday Liam!!! You are such a sweet boy! <3
July 22nd, 2010 | #
Happy Birthday Laim.
You are SO cute!
July 22nd, 2010 | #
Ahh! He is such a beautiful little guy! I know how much you’ve enjoyed having him. Happy Birthday little Liam!
July 25th, 2010 | #
I’d never seen this poem in it’s entirety. Love it! That picture of Liam in the backpack is adorable. I can’t believe how much he has grown!
August 31st, 2010 | #