On the Landing

BOBBY, aetat. 3. JOHNNY, aetat. 4. BOBBY     DO you know why theyve put us in that back room,     Up in the attic, close against the sky,     And made believe our nurserys a cloak-room?     Do you know why? JOHNNY     No more I dont, nor why that Sammys mother,     What Ma thinks horrid, cause he bunged my eye,     Eats an ice cream, down there, like any other!     No more dont I! BOBBY     Do you know why Nurse says it isnt manners     For you and me to ask folks twice for pie,     And no one hits that man with two bananas?     Do you know why? JOHNNY     No more I dont, nor why that girl, whose dress is     Off of her shoulders, dont catch cold and die,     When you and me gets croup when we undresses!     No more dont I! BOBBY     Perhaps she aint as good as you and I is,     And God dont want her up there in the sky,     And lets her live to come in just when pie is     Perhaps thats why! JOHNNY     Do you know why that man thats got a cropped head     Rubbed it just now as if he felt a fly?     Could it be, Bobby, something that I dropded?     And is that why? BOBBY     Good boys behaves, and so they dont get scolded,     Nor drop hot milk on folks as they pass by. JOHNNY (piously)     Marbles would bounce on Mr. Jones bald head     But I shant try! BOBBY     Do you know why Aunt Jane is always snarling     At you and me because we tells a lie,     And she dont slap that man that called her darling?     Do you know why? JOHNNY     No more I dont, nor why that man with Mamma     Just kissed her hand. BOBBY     She hurt it and thats why;     He made it well, the very way that Mamma     Does do to I. JOHNNY     I feel so sleepy. . . . Was that Papa kissed us?     What made him sigh, and look up to the sky? BOBBY     We werent downstairs, and he and God had missed us,     And that was why!