Poetry for children

Chapter 32: WRITTEN IN THE FIRST LEAF OF A CHILD’S MEMORANDUM BOOK

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About This Book

This collection assembles short, simple poems and dialogues written for young readers, many by Mary with contributions from Charles, presenting playful scenes of childhood, sibling banter, moral fables, religious reflections, and observations of nature and daily life. Pieces range from light verse about losing baby teeth, toys, and first sights of green fields to didactic fables and tender portraits of family affection, occasionally adapting biblical or anecdotal material. Language is plain and rhythmic, with occasional ballads and moral lessons aimed at cultivating kindness, cleanliness, courage, and sympathy while celebrating imagination and domestic intimacy.

WRITTEN IN THE
FIRST LEAF OF A
CHILD’S
MEMORANDUM BOOK

XXX

My neat and pretty book, when I thy small lines see,

They seem for any use to be unfit for me:

My writing, all misshaped, uneven as my mind,

Within this narrow space can hardly be confined.

Yet I will strive to make my hand less awkward look;

I would not willingly disgrace thee, my neat book!

The finest pens I’ll use, and wondrous pains I’ll take,

And I these perfect lines my monitors will make.

And every day I will set down in order due

How that day wasted is; and should there be a few

At the year’s end that show more goodly to the sight,

If haply here I find some days not wasted quite,

If a small portion of them I have pass’d aright,

Then shall I think the year not wholly was misspent,

And that my Diary has been by some good angel sent.