Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BABY'S GOT A TOOTH, by EDGAR ALBERT GUEST Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The telephone rang in my office today, as it often has tinkled before Last Line: "baby, my dear, has a tooth." Alternate Author Name(s): Guest, Eddie Subject(s): Babies; Teeth; Infants; Toothaches | ||||||||
The telephone rang in my office to-day, as it often has tinkled before. I turned in my chair in a half-grouchy way, for a telephone call is a bore; And I thought, "It is somebody wanting to know the distance from here to Pekin." In a tone that was gruff I shouted "Hello," a sign for the talk to begin. "What is it?" I asked in a terrible way. I was huffy, to tell you the truth, Then over the wire I heard my wife say: "The baby, my dear, has a tooth!" I have seen a man jump when the horse that he backed finished first in a well-driven race. I have heard the man cheer, as a matter of fact, and I've seen the blood rush to his face; I've been on the spot when good news has come in and I've witnessed expressions of glee That range from a yell to a tilt of the chin; and some things have happened to me That have thrilled me with joy from my toes to my head, but never from earliest youth Have I jumped with delight as I did when she said, "The baby, my dear, has a tooth." I have answered the telephone thousands of times for messages both good and bad; I've received the reports of most horrible crimes, and news that was cheerful or sad; I've been telephoned this and been telephoned that, a joke, or an errand to run; I've been called to the phone for the idlest of chat, when there was much work to be done; But never before have I realized quite the thrill of a message, forsooth, Till over the wire came these words that I write, "The baby, my dear, has a tooth." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CLEAR TEETH by JAMES MCMICHAEL ABOUT THE TEETH OF SHARKS by JOHN CIARDI GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE LOSS OF HIS TEETH by DIANE WAKOSKI ALL THE WIDE GRIN OF HIM by ELEANOR WILNER DREAM, VAGINA DENTATA by DENISE DUHAMEL RIDDLE: TEETH AND GUMS by MOTHER GOOSE JENNY WI' THE AIRN TEETH by ALEXANDER ANDERSON ADDRESS TO THE TOOTHACHE by ROBERT BURNS |
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