Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BABY'S GOT A TOOTH, by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BABY'S GOT A TOOTH, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The telephone rang in my office today, as it often has tinkled before
Last Line: "baby, my dear, has a tooth."
Alternate Author Name(s): Guest, Eddie
Subject(s): Babies; Teeth; Infants; Toothaches


The telephone rang in my office to-day, as it often has
tinkled before.
I turned in my chair in a half-grouchy way, for a telephone
call is a bore;
And I thought, "It is somebody wanting to know the distance
from here to Pekin."
In a tone that was gruff I shouted "Hello," a sign for the
talk to begin.
"What is it?" I asked in a terrible way. I was huffy, to
tell you the truth,
Then over the wire I heard my wife say: "The baby, my
dear, has a tooth!"

I have seen a man jump when the horse that he backed
finished first in a well-driven race.
I have heard the man cheer, as a matter of fact, and I've
seen the blood rush to his face;
I've been on the spot when good news has come in and I've
witnessed expressions of glee
That range from a yell to a tilt of the chin; and some
things have happened to me
That have thrilled me with joy from my toes to my head, but
never from earliest youth
Have I jumped with delight as I did when she said, "The
baby, my dear, has a tooth."

I have answered the telephone thousands of times for
messages both good and bad;
I've received the reports of most horrible crimes, and news
that was cheerful or sad;
I've been telephoned this and been telephoned that, a joke,
or an errand to run;
I've been called to the phone for the idlest of chat, when
there was much work to be done;
But never before have I realized quite the thrill of a
message, forsooth,
Till over the wire came these words that I write, "The
baby, my dear, has a tooth."





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