I’m surprised I haven’t…

I'm surprised I haven't run into this before. Charming, and a good reminder to those of us who can get a little obsessive about cleaning. :-) Especially love the last two lines. (Which is not to say that the dishes don't still have to get done every day -- otherwise, we won't have anything to eat on!)

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

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

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For 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 Hulburt Hamilton, 1958

1 thought on “I’m surprised I haven’t…”

  1. You’ve never run into this before? SHOCKING! My mom always had this hanging around. As each of us has had kids, she’s done an embroidered wall hanging for us with the last verse, so we’ll remember.

    The embroidered picture is available as a kit through ebay, sometimes. If you’re interested, my mom could give details.

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