Oh my slow and sleepy mother

Oh my slow and sleepy mother, always worried you'd be late

Or were doing something wrong or that Daddy'd set you straight

You were always feeling guilty, feeling late, a step behind.

You were always catching up from the detours of your mind

Hiding thrillers under pillows just as Daddy came home

Stashing mending in a trunk where it never got sewn

Dropping Ruthy on her head, stranding me locked out-of-doors

Ah but still, in spite of all, we were freely, gaily yours!

Daddy couldn't do without you, even while he stormed and fussed

You made every day a playtime, though we did the things we must

All the house was wild and roaring, we were loud and boisterous

Oh my slow, shy, sleepy mother, but you tamed and gentled us.