MY PLAYMATES
When Willie comes to visit me
We play menagerie.
He says, "Pretend that you're a lamb,
And I'll a lion be."
Then he begins to growl and roar
And make a dreadful noise.
I don't mind much when he goes home;
It's hard to play with boys.
When Julia comes to visit me
I am her waiting maid,
While she's a lady, grand and stern.
Of her I'm 'most afraid.
She sends me for my mother's hat,
Then takes her nicest skirt,
And trails it all around the house
Until it's full of dirt.
When Alice comes to play with me
She asks, "What shall we play?"
I answer, "Anything you like."
She coaxes, "Do please say."
Sometimes it's dolls, sometimes it's games,
No matter what it be,
I have the very nicest time
When Alice plays with me.
REBECCA DEMING MOORE.