Madeline Moore
(a poem for children)

Madeline Moore, who just turned four,
says that four is much better than three.
Madeline Moore (though I'm not keeping score),
is still two years younger than me.

Madeline said that she'll not go to bed
one minute sooner than eight.
I said that bed should be seven instead
and that started off a debate.

Madeline Moore said, now that she's four,
eight o'clock is what it should be.
I told her eight is really quite late
for someone not much more than three.

Madeline Moore kicked and screamed on the floor,
and hollered out loud to high heaven.
Her mother then said that she must go to bed,
as early as quarter to seven.

Now Madeline knows just how bed time goes
when she hollers and screams and kicks—
and it's only right she went early that night,
for she's still two years younger than six.

Madeline Moore, who just turned four
goes to bed at seven fifteen—
unless, like before, she screams on the floor
and causes a horrible scene.

I go at eight, which isn't too late
for someone who's three plus three.
She's only four (and I'll never keep score),
but that's still two years younger than me.

© 2011 Katharine L. Sparrow