Did you hear? Did you hear?
It’s your mother, darling, oh come near
I’ve got some news, and I’ve got the time,
To fill your ear with bits of rhyme.

Your Aunt Baby’s sick, the poor dear thing,
Doctor says she’s so weak—might not see this spring.
And then the old man Barrett—do you know?
Twenty cats now roam around the borough.

Did you hear about the neighbor’s fight?
That daughter of theirs, something isn’t right—
Some trouble with the law, Typical I hear,
Oh, it’s a shameful, such things I guess appear.

Your goddammed father hurt his back, you know,
Bending wrong—he’s just so, so slow.
I told him, “Rest!” but he won’t lie down,
Stubborn man, always around.

And, darling, I was thinking, dear—
Why aren’t you doing your master’s this year?
Mae’s daughter did it, can’t you see?
She’s got the degree already, she’s so fancy and free!

But, never mind, I guess, it’s your life to live—
I just want you to always thrive and give,
What’s that, you can? —more news, more chat,
You’ve got time, I’ll take care of that.

Did you hear? Did you hear?
There’s always something new to fear.
But darling, darling, know it true—   
I’m just here to talk to you.

-M.S Chandler