The following is a lovely story from Jess Luchies. Jess had her first baby at 32 years and last October was blessed to receive her 7th baby at age 42! God is good. You’ll love both poems!
Years ago, I came across an old mother’s poem that I loved. When I first read it, I had such a sense of mothering across the ages. The mom that wrote the poem in the 1950s was about 37 years with five children when she had the poem published in the 2020s. I was 38 years when I wrote my own version with five children. (Now 42 and recently welcomed baby 7!)
When you read the poem from the 50s, you may relate to me in that I haven't poisoned any moths lately. But there are new temptations that threaten to take away my mothering and baby moments. I will print her original and REWRITE mine below. Mothering is the same through all the generations!
Song for a Fifth Child
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton (b.1921-2018)
(published 1958 in "Ladies Home Journal" magazine, her five children at the time about ages 11, 9, 7, 5 and baby)
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 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 her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.
MY REWRITE:
Rocking my Baby 'Cause Babies Don't Keep!
by Jess L. (b.1982-) (written when her five children were 7,4,3,1, and baby)
Momma, oh Momma, come put down your phone,
Close Facebook and Pinterest, be really at home.
Start the next load of washing, slice gluten-free bread,
Put away the laundry and fresh sheets on the bed.
Where is the mom with no online presence?
She’s rocking her baby, so blissfully present.
Oh, I've lost track of current style, what's next and what's new,
(I'm too busy loving and cuddling you).
Emails are waiting and responses past due,
(Those snuggly hugs and squishy baby cheeks too!).
Not sure what's for supper, leftover stew?
And there's things that need doing, more than a few-
But I'm holding my lovey, all I'm wanting to do.
And oh! Did you hear that giggle and coo?
(I'm soaking in loving and snuggling you).
Instagram and TikTok will wait till tomorrow,
For this time doesn't last as I've learned to my sorrow.
So my phone is on silent. Computers on sleep.
I'm rocking my baby 'cause babies don't keep!
Blessings from JESS LUCHIES
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.