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...ON THE SOUL by PUBLIUS AELIUS HADRIANUS NORTH-WEST PASSAGE: 1. GOOD NIGHT by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON WHEN I READ THE BOOK by WALT WHITMAN THE LAY OF SAINT MEDARD; A LEGEND OF AFRIC by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM HE DIED FOR ME by GEORGE WASHINGTON BETHUNE |