Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LITTLE BROTHER'S STORY by KATHERINE MANSFIELD

First Line: WE SAT IN FRONT OF THE FIRE
Last Line: AND GRANDMOTHER GAVE HIM JUMPS ON HER LAP.
Subject(s): GRANDPARENTS; GRANDMOTHERS; GRANDFATHERS; GREAT GRANDFATHERS; GREAT GRANDMOTHERS;

We sat in front of the fire;
Grandmother was in the rocking chair doing her
knitting
And Little Brother and I were lying down flat.
"Please tell us a story, Grandmother," we said.
But she put her head on one side and began counting
the stitches,
"Suppose you tell me one instead."
I made up one about a spotted tiger
That had a knot in his tail;
But though I liked this about the knot,
I did not know why it was put there.
So I said: "Little Brother's turn."
"I know a perfect story," he cried, waving his hands.
Grandmother laid down her knitting.
"Do tell us, dear."
"Once upon a time there was a bad little girl
And her Mummy gave her the slipper, and that's all."
It was not a very special story.
But we pretended to be very pleased
And Grandmother gave him jumps on her lap.



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