"I'm Rocking My Baby"

I came across this beautiful poem a while back, and thought I'd share it.  


"I'm Rocking My Baby and Babies Don't Keep"


Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth, 
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth, 
Hang out the washing, make up the bed, 
Sew on a button and butter the bread. 
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking? 
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking. 
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue, Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo. 
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due 
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo 
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew 
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo 
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo 
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue? 
Lullaby, rockaby lullaby loo. 
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow 
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow. 
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep. 

- Ruth Hulbert Hamilton