A BOOK FOR KIDS
by
C J Dennis
(1921)

A very charming gentleman, as old as old could be,
Stared a while, and glared a while, and then he said to me:
"Read your books, and heed your books, and put your books away,
For you will surely need your books upon a later day."
And then he wheezed and then he sneezed, and gave me such a look.
And he said, "Mark--ME--boy! Be careful of your book."

A very charming gentleman, indeed, he seemed to be.
He heaved a sigh and wiped his eye, and then he said to me:
"Take your books and make your books companions--never toys;
For they who so forsake their books grow into gawky boys."
I don't know who he was. Do you? he snuffled at the end;
And he said, "Mark--ME--boy! Your book should be your friend."

DEDICATION

To all good children over four
   And under four-and-eighty
Be you not over-prone to pore
   On matters grave and weighty.
Mayhap you'll find within this book
   Some touch of Youth's rare clowning,
If you will condescend to look
   And not descend to frowning.

The mind of one small boy may hold
   Odd fancies and inviting,
To guide a hand unsure and old
   That moves, these days, to writing.
For hair once bright, in days of yore,
   Grows grey (or somewhat slaty),
And now, alas, he's over four,
   Though under four-and-eighty.

THE BAKER

I'd like to be a baker, and come when morning breaks,
Calling out, "Beeay-ko!" (that's the sound he makes)--
Riding in a rattle-cart that jogs and jolts and shakes,
Selling all the sweetest things a baker ever bakes;
Currant-buns and brandy-snaps, pastry all in flakes;
   But I wouldn't be a baker if . . .
      I couldn't eat the cakes.
         Would