Song for a Fifth Child

Around the time of Levin's birth we had received a card & note from Levin's Great Grandparents Ross & Evelyn Shingledecker of Caledonia, WI. They are John's dad's parents who are now in their mid 80's still living in their own home in WI surrounded by lots & lots of family as they raised 10 children of their own & have many children, grandchildren & great grandchildren nearby.

Included with the card & note was a lovely little poem, titled "Song for a Fifth Child". Adding to the sweet nostalgia & sentiment of the poem, it is typed on some old paper with some hand drawings of a baby bear, baby blocks, and a rattle. I think of this poem a lot, as it seems to suit me to a tea lately. I also think of the other women in her family to whom Great Grandma Evelyn has most likely sent a copy.....and I consider myself blessed to be among the ranks of those fine women.

Song for a Fifth Child

Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing and butter the bread,

Sew on a button and make up a bed.

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, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

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).

Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will 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. Babies don't keep.

1958....Ruth Hulburt Hamilton