"How would Willie like to go To the Land of Thus-and-So? Everything is proper there -- All the children comb their hair Smoother than the fur of cats, Or the nap of high silk hats; Every face is clean and white As a lily washed in light; Never vaguest soil or speck Found on forehead, throat or neck; Every little crimpled ear, In and out, as pure and clear As the cherry-blossom's blow In the Land of Thus-and-So. "Little boys that never fall Down the stair, or cry at all -- Doing nothing to repent, Watchful and obedient; Never hungry, nor in haste -- Tidy shoe-strings always laced; Never button rudely torn From its fellows all unworn; Knickerbockers always new -- Ribbon, tie, and collar, too; Little watches, worn like men, Always promptly half-past ten -- Just precisely right, you know, For the Land of Thus-and-So! "And the little babies there Give no one the slightest care -- Nurse has not a thing to do But be happy and sigh 'Boo!' While Mamma just nods, and knows Nothing but to doze and doze: Never litter round the grate; Never lunch or dinner late; Never any household din Peals without or rings within -- Baby coos nor laughing calls On the stairs or through the halls -- Just Great Hushes to and fro Pace the Land of Thus-and-so! "Oh! the Land of Thus-and-So! Isn't it delightful, though?" "Yes," lisped Willie, answering me Somewhat slow and doubtfully -- "Must be awful nice, but I Ruther wait till by-andby 'Fore I go there -- maybe when I be dead I'll go there then. -- But" -- the troubled little face Closer pressed in my embrace -- "Le's don't never ever go To the Land of Thus-and-So!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOOTH'S PHILIPPI by EDGAR LEE MASTERS BUT NOT TO ME by SARA TEASDALE EBB by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY THE YOUNG GRAY HEAD by CAROLINE ANNE BOWLES SOUTHEY THE SODA-WATER SLOT-MACHINE by BELLA AKHMADULINA |