Author: Eugene Field

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    It's when the birds go piping and the daylight slowly breaks,
    That, clamoring for his dinner, our precious baby wakes;
    Then it's sleep no more for baby, and it's sleep no more for me,
    For, when he wants his dinner, why it's dinner it must be!
    And of that lacteal fluid he partakes with great ado,
    While gran'ma laughs,
    And gran'pa laughs,
    And wife, she laughs,
    And I - well, I laugh, too!

    You'd think, to see us carrying on about that little tad,
    That, like as not, that baby was the first we'd ever had;
    But, sakes alive! he isn't, yet we people make a fuss
    As if the only baby in the world had come to us!
    And, morning, noon, and night-time, whatever he may do,
    Gran'ma, she laughs,
    Gran'pa, he laughs,
    Wife, she laughs,
    And I, of course, laugh, too!

    But once - a likely spell ago - when that poor little chick
    From teething or from some such ill of infancy fell sick,
    You wouldn't know us people as the same that went about
    A-feelin' good all over, just to hear him crow and shout;
    And, though the doctor poohed our fears and said he'd pull him through,
    Old gran'ma cried,
    And gran'pa cried,
    And wife, she cried,
    And I - yes, I cried, too!

    It makes us all feel good to have a baby on the place,
    With his everlastin' crowing and his dimpling, dumpling face;
    The patter of his pinky feet makes music everywhere,
    And when he shakes those fists of his, good-by to every care!
    No matter what our trouble is, when he begins to coo,
    Old gran'ma laughs,
    And gran'pa laughs,
    Wife, she laughs,
    And I - you bet, I laugh, too!

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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem encapsulates the joy, worry, and love that permeate a family when a new baby arrives, demonstrating a keen understanding of human emotion. The key themes are family, parenthood, joy, worry, and love, all of which are woven together through the narrative of family interactions with a new baby. The tone is generally light and joyful, interspersed with a brief moment of worry and tension when the baby falls sick. However, it ends on a positive note, reinforcing the overall impression of happiness and love.

The structure of the poem is consistent, with each stanza containing a narrative and ending with a repetitive chorus-like refrain that changes slightly based on the narrative. This repetition creates a sing-song rhythm, reminiscent of a nursery rhyme, enhancing the theme of childhood and parenthood. The poet also employs humor and colloquial language for a more relatable and natural feel.

The use of the words "laughs" and "cried" in repetition reinforces the extreme emotions experienced by the family members, highlighting the significant impact of the baby on their emotional states. The poem’s strength lies in its ability to transform an everyday event into a reflection on universal themes like joy, worry, and love, making it relatable and evocative for a wide audience.