Classic Poem

Sometimes when Pa gets mad because
I bust some of his household laws,
He says: “Look here, you rascal, you,
I'll whale you, sir, that's what I'll do.”
An' Ma, she just turns up her nose,
An' sits there in refined repose,
An' higher still her nose she tilts;
An' Pa don't lick me—he just wilts.

When Ma gets mad because I do
Some little thing she said not to,
She don't talk loud and wild like Dad,
But just says: “Will, come here, my lad.”
An' Pa don't get no chance to tilt
His nose—an' Ma, well, she don't wilt;
She just leads Willie boy away
Out to the shed and makes him lay
Acrost her lap—seems just like play,
'Cept Willie don't sit down that day.