Baby Song

Marc Chagall

The Birth

Baby Song

From the private ease of Mother’s womb
I fall in to the lighted room.

Why don’t they simply put me back
Where it is warm and wet and black?

But one thing follows on another.
Things were different inside Mother.

Padded and jolly I would ride.
The perfect comfort of her inside.

They tuck me in a rustling bed
--I lie there, raging, small, and red.

I may sleep soon, I may forget,
But I won’t forget that I regret.

A rain of blood poured round her womb,
But all time roars outside this room.

~ Thom Gunn ~

Dreadful

Francisco Jose de Goya

Saturn Devouring His Children

Dreadful

Someone ate the baby.

It's rather sad to say.

Someone ate the baby

So she won't be out to play.

We'll never hear her whiney cry

Or have to feel if she is dry.

We'll never hear her asking "Why?"

Someone ate the baby.

Someone ate the baby.

It's absolutely clear

Someone ate the baby

'Cause the baby isn't here.

We'll give away her toys and clothes.

We'll never have to wipe her nose.

Dad says, "That's the way it goes."

Someone ate the baby.

Someone ate the baby.

What a frightful thing to eat!

Someone ate the baby

Though she wasn't very sweet.

It was a heartless thing to do.

The policemen haven't got a clue.

I simply can't imagine who

Would go and (burp) eat the baby.

~ Shel Silverstein ~