HEAD>THE MIDDLE CHILD
THE MIDDLE CHILD
Whenever there is company and mother sends for us,
It's always 'bout the baby they make the biggest fuss.
They say, "She's sweet as she can be!"
"Her hair, just see it curl."
They never say such things to me, 'cause I'm the middle girl.
And then they say to sister, "Why, is this the oldest child?
She'll be a woman by and by!" And after they have smiled
And held her hand, they look at me. Mamma says, "she's begun
To loose her teeth," and then they laugh- 'cause I'm the middle one.
Then baby speaks her little piece, and sisters ask to sing;
But no one ever seems to guess that I do anything.
Altho my name is Margaret, and Margaret means "pearl;
Nobody thinks that I'm sweet, 'cause I'm the middle girl.
When I grow up, and when I have family of my own,
I'll send up for the middle girl to come down stairs alone;
And I shall let her speak and sing and have a lot of fun,
I'll not deny her anything 'cause she's the middle one!
-Ethel M. Kelly
BACK TO POETRY
H O M E