Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A PROTEST, by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A PROTEST, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I think it's queer that boys should be
Last Line: "yes, dear—some time—now run to bed!"
Subject(s): Boys; Children; Contrariness; Parents; Childhood; Parenthood


I THINK it's queer that boys should be
Sent off to bed right after tea
When it's so jolly out of doors
And there are lots and lots of chores
A boy could do——I don't see why
They shouldn't be allowed to try.

The day's so full of things to do
I never seem to get quite through;
There are so many plays to play
The daylight seems to slip away—
Almost before I've quite begun
My bedtime comes to spoil my fun!

When I am big 'twill be all right
For then I'll stay up most all night—
But mother's big, and mother said,
"I wish that I could go to bed!
I feel so tired, little son,
I'm always glad when day is done."

(Wasn't that queer!) I said that she
Could go to bed instead of me,
But mother said, "That will not do—
Sleep is the thing for boys like you,
So you can grow up tall and strong
And never find the day too long."

"And will you take a long rest then,
And never, never work again?
When I'm a man will you be free
To go to bed right after tea?"
But mother only smiled and said
"Yes, dear—some time—now run to bed!"





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