Dear Modern Mamma, if you please, I'd like to take the baby. I'll hold my breath, nor cough, nor sneeze, If I may hold the baby. As one who fully understands The law of germs and its commands I've disinfected both my hands -- And may I hold the baby? I will not kiss the precious thing, If I may hold the baby; And only Tennyson I'll sing, If I may hold the baby. I will not rock it, cradlewise, I will not toss it if it cries, I will not twist my mouth or eyes, If I may hold the baby. By Pestalozzi I will walk, If I may hold the baby. I'll not indulge in baby talk, If I amy hold the baby. With placid brow and soul serene I'll talk of Greek, and Pleiocene, And it will gather all I mean. Please, may I hold the baby? I'll give it nothing good to eat, If I may hold the baby; Especially, no horrid sweet, -- And may I hold the baby? I loathe, abhor, the ancient use Of Mrs. Winslow's soothing juice. I'll banish her, with Mother Goose, If I may hold the baby. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONG OF THE SINNER by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON PEDANTIC LITERALIST by MARIANNE MOORE WHITE NOCTURNE by CONRAD AIKEN THE FAT LADY by HAYDEN CARRUTH MEMORY by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON |