Classic Poem

Poor old lady, set her aside
— Her children are grown, and her work is done;
True, in their service, her locks turned gray,
— But shove her away, unsought, alone.

Give her a home, for decency's sake,
— In some back room, far out of the way,
Where her tremulous voice cannot be heard —
— It might check your mirth when you would be gay.

Strive to forget how she toiled for you
— And cradled you oft on her loving breast —
Told you stories and joined your play,
— Many an hour when she needed rest.

No matter for that — huddle her off;
— Your friends might wince at her witty jest;
She is too old-fashioned, and speaks so plain —
— Get her out of the way of the coming guest.

Once you valued her cheerful voice,
— Her hearty laugh and her merry song;
But to ears polite they are quite too loud —
— Her jokes too sharp, her tales too long.

So, poor old lady, hustle her off —
— In her cheerless room let her sit alone;
She must not meet with your guests tonight,
— For her children are grown and her work is done.

Poor old lady, set her aside
— Her children are grown, and her work is done;
True, in their service, her locks turned gray,
— But shove her away, unsought, alone.

Give her a home, for decency's sake,
— In some back room, far out of the way,
Where her tremulous voice cannot be heard —
— It might check your mirth when you would be gay.

Strive to forget how she toiled for you
— And cradled you oft on her loving breast —
Told you stories and joined your play,
— Many an hour when she needed rest.

No matter for that — huddle her off;
— Your friends might wince at her witty jest;
She is too old-fashioned, and speaks so plain —
— Get her out of the way of the coming guest.

Once you valued her cheerful voice,
— Her hearty laugh and her merry song;
But to ears polite they are quite too loud —
— Her jokes too sharp, her tales too long.

So, poor old lady, hustle her off —
— In her cheerless room let her sit alone;
She must not meet with your guests tonight,
— For her children are grown and her work is done.