Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SPRINKLING THE BABY by BURGES JOHNSON

First Line: MY MOTHER SAYS I'M MUCH TOO SMALL
Last Line: UNLESS THEY'RE WATERED EVERY DAY.
Subject(s): CHILDREN; GROWTH; CHILDHOOD;
My mother says I'm much too small
To have a garden of my own.
She says I take no pains at all
To tend my plants, from spring to fall;
That's why they haven't grown.
She says they can't get tall and strong
Unless they're watered right along.

I want to let my mother know
That I can truly do a lot.
I'm big enough to help, and so
I'm making baby sister grow,—
She's such a tiny tot.
And things won't grow, the folks all say,
Unless they're watered every day.



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