Disobedience

Shhh. Don't tell anyone. The husband's taking B. and E. to the Grandparents this weekend. I calculate I have approximately 28 hours with no-one to please but me!
In honour of this event and the meme that is Poetry Friday amongst kids' book bloggers I found myself reciting this poem on the walk down the hill after school drop off.

Disobedience


James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James
said to his Mother,
"Mother" he said, said he;
"You must never go down to the end of the town, if
you don't go down with me."

James James
Morrison's Mother
Put on a golden gown,
James James
Morrison's Mother
Drove to the end of the town.
James James
Morrison's Mother
Said to herself, said she:
"I can get right down to the end of the town and be back in time for tea."

King John
put up a notice,
"LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
JAMES JAMES MORRISON'S MOTHER
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
LAST SEEN
WANDERING VAGUELY:
QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN TO THE END OF
THE TOWN- FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!

James James
Morrison Morrison
(Commonly known as Jim)
Told his
Other relations
Not to go blaming him.
James James
said to his Mother,
"Mother," he said, said he:
"You must never go down to the end of the town without
consulting me."

James James
Morrison's mother
Hasn't been heard of since.
King John
Said he was sorry,
So did the Queen and Prince.
King John
(somebody told me)
Said to a man he knew;
"If people go down to the end of the town, well, what
can anyone do?"

(now then, very softly)
J.J.
M.M.
W.G. Du P.
took great
C/o his M*****
Though he was only 3.
J.J.
Said to his M*****
"M*****," he said, said he:
"You-must-never-go-down-to-the-end-of-the-town-if-
you-don't-go-down-with ME!"

A.A. Milne

All Milne's poems were staples of my childhood. We had a rather nice illustrated edition of 'The King's Breakfast' and not being a fan of marmalade myself I felt great sympathy with the King's quest for butter for his bread. My favourite was 'King John's Christmas' which my father would read very straight and solemn in a manner that would almost reduce me to tears. I really worried about poor, wicked, King John and the paucity of his Christmas stocking.

I also really worried about James' lost mother. I'm not sure 'Disobedience' is a poem for children at all, although the rhythm ensures that read once it will lodge itself in your brain for ever. But as a Mother of a  'barely alive' 5 year old who doesn't want me even going to the toilet without his permission I find a new healthy adult appreciation of it. Fetch me my golden gown I'm outta here...

from 'When We Were Very Young' by A.A. Milne, illustrations E.H. Shepard, pub.Egmont
isbn 1405211180