Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DISCIPLINE, by DOUGLAS MALLOCH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DISCIPLINE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I guess we ought to tan them more
Last Line: Perhaps I was -- but I don't know.
Subject(s): Discipline


I guess we ought to tan them more,
The way our parents did, before
These days of autos, jazz and sin
Had put an end to discipline.
I guess we ought to take them to
The woodshed, like folks used to do.
I guess we shouldn't let them go
The way we do -- but I don't know.

I guess we ought to get severe
And take a youngster by the ear
And march him out to that old shed
And punish him the way I said.
Perhaps he'd show us more respect,
Perhaps his duties recollect
And, when we told him so and so,
Would do it then -- but I don't know.

I know I got it when a kid
For things I didn't and I did.
And I suppose it made me good,
Like people used to think it would.
But, honest though, I can't recall
I was much better, after all,
Than youngsters now neglected so.
Perhaps I was -- but I don't know.





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