Classic Poem

It is time for bed, so the nurse declares,
But I slip off to the nook,
The cozy nook at the head of the stairs,
Where daddy's reading his book.

'I want to sit here awhile on your knee,'
I say, as I toast my feet,
'And I want you to pop some corn for me,
And give me an apple sweet.'

I tickle him under the chin-just so-
And I say, 'Please can't I, dad?'
Then I kiss his mouth so he can't say no
To his own little black-eyed lad.

'You can't have a pony this year at all,'
Says my stingy Uncle Joe,
After promising it-and there's the stall
Fixed ready for it, you know.

One can't depend on his uncle, I see,
It's daddies that are the best,
And I find mine and climb up on his knee
As he takes his smoke and rest.

I tickle him under the chin-just so-
And I say, 'Please can't I, dad?'
Then I kiss his mouth so he can't say no
To his own little black-eyed lad.

I want to skate, and oh, what a fuss
For fear I'll break through the ice!
This woman that keeps our house for us,
She isn't what I call nice.

She wants a boy to be just like a girl,
To play in the house all day,
Keep his face all clean and his hair in curl,
But dad doesn't think that way.

I tickle him under the chin-just so-
And I say, 'Please can't I, dad?'
Then I kiss his mouth so he can't say no
To his own little black-eyed lad.

'You're growing so big,' says my dad to me.
'Soon be a man, I suppose,
Too big to climb on your old dad's knee
And toast your ten little toes.'

Then his voice it gets the funniest shake,
And oh, but he hugs me tight!
I say, when I can't keep my eyes awake,
'Let me sleep with you to-night.'

I tickle him under the chin-just so-
And I say, 'Please can't I, dad?'
Then I kiss his mouth so he can't say no
To his own little black-eyed lad.