Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NELLY TELLS HOW BABY CAME, by THOMAS STEPHENS COLLIER First Line: There's no use of your talking, for mamma told me so Last Line: Why, tell them it's the angels, for mamma told me so. Alternate Author Name(s): Collyer, Thomas Stephens Subject(s): Babies; Infants | ||||||||
THERE'S no use of your talking, for mamma told me so, And if there's any one that does, my mamma ought to know; For she has been to Europe and seen the Pope at Rome, Though she says that was before I came to live with her at home. You see we had no baby, -- unless you call me one, And I have grown so big, you know, 't would have to be in fun, -- When I went to see grandma, about two weeks ago, And now we've one, a little one, that squirms and wiggles so. And mamma says an angel came down from heaven above, And brought this baby to her for her and me to love; And it's got the cunningest of feet, as little as can be, And shining eyes and curly hair, and hands you scarce can see. And then it never cries a bit, like some bad babies do; And papa says it looks like me -- I don't think so, do you? For I'm a girl and it's a boy, and boys I can't endure; Unless they're babies like our own, they'll plague and tease you, sure. But you say the angel didn't come: now you just tell me why; The Bible says there's angels in heaven, and that's up in the sky; And Christ loves little babies, and God made everything, And if the angels didn't, who did our baby bring? You can't tell: no, I guess you can't, but mamma ought to know, For it's her baby -- hers and ours -- and mamma told me so; And they don't make any cunning things like him on earth, you see, For no wax doll, with real hair, is half so nice as he. I know an angel brought him, and I think one brought me too; Though I don't just now remember, and so can't tell, can you? But mamma knows; and this I know, -- the baby wasn't home When I went away, and now he is. If you want to see him, come. For mamma says if I am good I can kiss him every day, And we'll kiss him now, and then go out and have a nice long play; And if anybody asks you how babies come and go, Why, tell them it's the angels, for mamma told me so. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A POET TO HIS BABY SON by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON BABYHOOD by ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN INFANCY by EDMUND JOHN ARMSTRONG BALLAD OF THE LAYETTE by WAYNE KOESTENBAUM A TOAST FOR LITTLE IRON MIKE by PAUL MARIANI THE PAMPERING OF LEORA by THYLIAS MOSS ONE FOR ALL NEWBORNS by THYLIAS MOSS IN THE THRIVING SEASON by LISEL MUELLER CLEOPATRA DYING by THOMAS STEPHENS COLLIER |
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