LADY, when you say you'll come <br />Tuesday morn to do our washing, <br />Tell us if there isn't some <br />Way to know if you are joshing? <br /> <br />When you promise to be here <br />Toiling at our tubs and wringers, <br />And we think you are sincere, <br />Tell us, do you cross your fingers? <br /> <br />When we show you round our place, <br />And you vow you'll come and clean it, <br />How, we ask you to your face, <br />Can we know you really mean it? <br /> <br />You with promises are glib, <br />This we do not say to grieve you, <br />But so many times you fib, <br />Tell us when can we believe you? <br /> <br />Lady, when we rise at six, <br />Just to get the water boiling, <br />We are in a sorry fix <br />When you dodge your day of toiling. <br /> <br />All your failures leave us glum, <br />It's a shame to waste a day so, <br />If you do not mean to come, <br />Why on earth do you not say so?<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lines-to-the-wash-woman/
