I recently and quite accidentaly came across a poem that I had as a child. It is called My Poor LIttle Tummy and was published in the Daily Mail Christamas Children's Album, probably in the early 1950's. It is the first poem, other than nursery rhymes, that I can remember and I recall reading it over and over again. I have reproduced it below. So I wondered what early poems other Soupers can remember.
My Poor Little Tummy
I had a Tummy,
A nice little Tummy,
And my little Tummy
Thought the World of ME.
BUT
My little Tummy
Got very, very funny,
And poor little Tummy
Got CROSS with ME,
BECAUSE (I'll tell you a secret)
I was having my dinner
One day at the table,
With Mummy and Daddy,
And Margaret and Mabel.
There was meat and 'Tatoes,
And Suety puff,
Pudding and prunes,
-Such HORRIBLE stuff,
So, I just sat and SULKED
and went all in a HUFF.
When, all of a sudden,
I heard a great RUMBLE
And Poor Little Tummy,
He started to G-R-U-M-B-L-E.
"It's all very well,
For you sitting up there,
To turn up your nose
And give me the air--
"But what ABOUT ME
Sitting under your vest,
Can't I have some dinner,
Just like the rest?
"You expect me to love you,
Not give you some ACHES;
But if you don't feed me
I'll be off in two shakes.
"And I'll go to someone
Who isn't so faddy,
I'll live with the Tummy
Who lives with your Daddy.
"And THEN, when you go off
To Play in the street,
With only your face
And your hands and your feet,
"PEOPLE will stare,
And say, 'Isn't he funny-
That poor little boy.
HE HASN'T a TUMMY....'"
WELL (I'll tell you a secret)
I like my Tummy,
My nice little Tummy,
I wouldn't like Tummy
To go and LEAVE ME.
So I talked to my Tummy
And I FED my little TUMMY
Cos I LOVE my Tummy,
And NOW
HE
LOVES
ME.