When something or other has made him feel glad, <br />His rattle he throws on the floor; <br />The times he is good and the times he is bad, <br />His rattle he throws on the floor. <br />When there is a smile on his pink little face, <br />Or a pin that is holding his garments in place <br />Has slipped from its moorings, he makes a grimace <br />And his rattle he throws on the floor. <br /> <br />When we are alone for the meal we call tea, <br />His rattle he throws on the floor; <br />And on the occasions we have company, <br />His rattle he throws on the floor. <br />When the cat strokes her side on the leg of his chair, <br />When no one is looking, or when we all stare, <br />When he's tired, or he isn't, of sitting up there, <br />His rattle he throws on the floor. <br /> <br />When he thinks that he ought to have something to eat <br />His rattle he throws on the floor; <br />When he's eaten too much — his most usual feat — <br />His rattle he throws on the floor. <br />When he's hot, when he's cold, when he's bold, when he's shy, <br />When he's thinking of starting or stopping a cry, <br />Before waving 'how -do' to his dad, or 'good-bye,' <br />His rattle he throws on the floor. <br /> <br />And his mother does nothing but wait on him when <br />His rattle he throws on the floor; <br />She recovers it for him, but straightway again <br />His rattle he throws on the floor. <br />Out of patience, we once on the floor let it stay, <br />But he put up a howl, for he wanted to play, <br />So relenting, we gave it to him, and straightway <br />His rattle he threw on the floor.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/his-rattle-he-throws-on-the-floor/
