Sing Me a Song

When I was in grade school, we had these enormous textbooks that we could never hope to cover in the span of a year in their entirety. So the curriculum was always 'We picked a couple, here they are.'

Towards the end of every year, though, as the curriculum winded down, we were given free time and allowed to focus on the portions that we wanted.

My favorite time for this to occur was in English Class. I could read as many short stories as I wanted, or just look at the pictures associated with them - always from obscure artists, and credited as such. I remember the picture for a portion of 'Most Dangerous Game' consisting of a screaming dog titled 'Yeshka' or something similar...

But more than 'Yeshka,' I remember "Sing Me a Song," by Bodecker.
Hidden far in the back of the book where we never got to read was a poetry and nonsense section,
and I wound up really enjoying this particular little diddy. It's never left my mind and I actually sang the 'Plum Jam' part to myself while walking home for lunch today:

"Sing me a song
of teapots and trumpets:
Trumpots and teapets
and tippets and taps,
tripper and trappers
and jelly bean wrappers
and pigs in pajamas
with zippers and snaps.
Sing me a song
of sneakers and snoopers:
Snookers and sneapers
and snappers and snacks,
snorkels and snarkles,
a seagull that gargles,
and gargoyles and gryphons
and other knickknacks.
Sing me a song
of parsnips and pickles:
Picsnips and parkles
and pumpkins and pears,
plumbers and mummers
and kettle drum drummers
and plum jam (yum-yum jam!)
all over their chairs.
Sing me a song -
but never you mind it!
I’ve had enough
of this nonsense. Don’t cry.
Criers and fliers
and onion ring fryers -
It’s more than I want to put up with!
Good-by!"

N.M. Bodecker