Good child good child mind the bell
Fold the paper tie it well
One for flowers two for news
Three for doors they never use
Four soft steps across the hall
Five small shadows on the wall
Six little ants slip out of sight—
Nothing happened here tonight
Good child good child eyes cast low
Smile at what they think they know
Seven for silver eight for praise
Nine for all their little ways
Ten—and close the ledger tight
Good children always count things right
One likes wine and two likes gold
Three likes pretty stories told
Four wants titles five applause
Six forgets to ask the cause
Seven sees silk eight sees lace
Nine believes the gentlest face
Ten looks once and turns away
Such polite grown-ups
Let them play
Good child good child home by night
One black veil beneath moonlight
Two cold hands and three red stains
Four good reasons neatly named
Five for danger six for gain
Seven makes it sound mundane
Eight says leave
Nine says stay
Ten should make me turn away
One for the bargain two for the fee
Three for the use you make of me
Four for the game five for the gain
Six for the debts I learned to name
Seven for profit eight for play
Nine for the veil you brushed away
Ten—
No
Count again
Good child good child close your eyes
No need now for prettier lies
One small flower two folded sheets
Three soft knocks and quiet feet
Four five six—the sums still do
Seven eight nine—
and then there’s you
Ten should close the little book
You were never meant to look
Yet the page remains undone
Perhaps I missed
a little one
Good child good child
count once more
There is still someone
by the door
Hush now
Let them call it play
