|
|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MANNERS, by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY Poet's Biography
First Line: When I sit down, all clean and bright
Last Line: May ask me out to tea someday!
Subject(s): Children; Etiquette; Girls; Childhood; Manners; Courtesy
First Line: When I sit down, all clean and bright
Last Line: May ask me out to tea someday!
Subject(s): Children; Etiquette; Girls; Childhood; Manners; Courtesy
WHEN I sit down, all clean and bright
Before the breakfast table, white,
With honey in a shining dish,
I'm most as good as I could wish—
For honey-comb and toast that curls
Are very good for little girls—
I never push my plate away,
Like the twins did the other day,
I never cry and say, "I won't!"
For I like honey, and they don't.
(2)
When mother has friends in to tea
I'm as polite as I can be,
I pass the sandwidges and cake
And never count how much they take—
Even if they take three or four
I always say, "Please have one more,"
(The twins would say, as like as not,
"My, don't you eat a nawful lot!")
I never even look—for they
May ask me out to tea someday!
Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!
Other Poems of Interest...
LIVING WITH MISTAKES by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE
WE MUST BE POLITE: 1 by CARL SANDBURG
WE MUST BE POLITE: 2 by CARL SANDBURG
HOW TO GET ON IN SOCIETY by JOHN BETJEMAN
MODERN MANNERS by MARY (CUMBERLAND) ALCOCK
A CHRISTMAS CHILD by ISABEL ECCLESTONE MACKAY