January 20, 2016
'Babies Don't Keep'

Dear Dr. Laura,

I'm now a grandmother of five children. Back in the day, when my children were young, there was a poem on the wall in my pediatrician's office called, "Babies Don't Keep." I was wondering if you had ever heard of it, I think you will enjoy it as much as me and my daughters do. 

Here it is:

"Babies Don't Keep" 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.

Do you have a poem you'd like to share with us? Share it with us, by signing up for the FREE Dr. Laura Family and send an email here.  

Posted by Staff at 10:58 AM