 | Poetry for children |  |
Baby to a Baby with a New-Year's Present.
'Tis New-Year's day,
The people say,
Kind notes they frame,
And presents send,
So I, my friend,
Will do the same.
The people say,
Kind notes they frame,
And presents send,
So I, my friend,
Will do the same.
I think I must
Write you the first,
Because you see
My age is four
Whole months and more,
And yours but three.
Write you the first,
Because you see
My age is four
Whole months and more,
And yours but three.
24
You've talents great
For church or state,
I often hear,
But don't be vain,
Wise men are plain,
And meek, my dear.
For church or state,
I often hear,
But don't be vain,
Wise men are plain,
And meek, my dear.
When thought asleep
I sometimes peep
My cradle o'er,
And slily turn
My ear and learn
Some curious lore.
I sometimes peep
My cradle o'er,
And slily turn
My ear and learn
Some curious lore.
A doctor grave
Who lives can save
I thus espied;
And when Nurse blam'd
And loudly sham'd
All babes who cried,
Who lives can save
I thus espied;
And when Nurse blam'd
And loudly sham'd
All babes who cried,
He said 'twas better
To lay no fetter
Upon the lungs.
To lay no fetter
Upon the lungs.
27
Yet almost fear
To have you hear
My poor inditing,
Your critic smile
Must scorn my style
Of baby-writing.
To have you hear
My poor inditing,
Your critic smile
Must scorn my style
Of baby-writing.
Six months have shed
Upon my head
But little knowledge,
While you are fit
In sense and wit
To enter college.
Upon my head
But little knowledge,
While you are fit
In sense and wit
To enter college.
My mother said
The map you'd spread
And shew with ease,
All the globe boasts,
Realms, isles and coasts,
And lakes and seas.
The map you'd spread
And shew with ease,
All the globe boasts,
Realms, isles and coasts,
And lakes and seas.
That you'd describe
The four-legged tribe
Both great and small,
Both wild and tam'd
That Adam nam'd
In Eden, all.
The four-legged tribe
Both great and small,
28
That Adam nam'd
In Eden, all.
Years, at this rate
Will make you great
Or I'm mistaken.
Perhaps with Locke,
The crowd you'll mock
Or shine like Bacon.
Will make you great
Or I'm mistaken.
Perhaps with Locke,
The crowd you'll mock
Or shine like Bacon.
With Franklin's zeal
The lightning steal,
And chain its rage,
Or nobly write
Your name like Dwight,
On Heaven's own page.
The lightning steal,
And chain its rage,
Or nobly write
Your name like Dwight,
On Heaven's own page.
Our sex I'm told
Are formed to hold
A lower place,
Our powers of mind
Being far behind
Your lordly race.
Are formed to hold
A lower place,
Our powers of mind
Being far behind
Your lordly race.
29
I've understood
That “household-good”
Was our employment,
To cook and mend,
And babies tend,
Our chief enjoyment.
That “household-good”
Was our employment,
To cook and mend,
And babies tend,
Our chief enjoyment.
'Tis very well,
I sha'nt rebel,
And when I grow,
Shall like to make
Nice pies and cake,
And share also.
I sha'nt rebel,
And when I grow,
Shall like to make
Nice pies and cake,
And share also.
But now good bye,
'Tis time that I
Your patience spare,
May you each day
In love repay
A parent's care.
'Tis time that I
Your patience spare,
May you each day
In love repay
A parent's care.
| Poetry for children | |