Kitchen Clock Poem by Hugh Max

I love this poem by by John Vance Cheney. Hope you will love my sharing too.

Knitting is the maid o' the kitchen, Milly,
Doing nothing sits the chore boy, Billy:
'Seconds reckoned,
Seconds reckoned;
Every minute,
Sixty in it.
Milly, Billy,
Billy, Milly,
Tick-tock, tock-tick,
Nick-knock, knock-nick,
Knockety-nick, nickety-knock, '-
Goes the kitchen clock.

Closer to the fire is rosy Milly,
Every whit as close and cosy, Billy:
'Time's a-flying,
Worth your trying;
Pretty Milly-
Kiss her, Billy!
Milly, Billy,
Billy, Milly,
Tick-tock, tock-tick,
Now-now, quick-quick!
Knockety-nick, nickety-knock, '-
Goes the kitchen clock.

Something's happened, very red is Milly,
Billy boy is looking very silly;
'Pretty misses,
Plenty kisses;
Make it twenty,
Take a plenty.
Billy, Milly,
Milly, Billy,
Right-left, left-right,
That's right, all right,
Knockety-nick, nickety-knock, '-
Goes the kitchen clock.

Weeks gone, still they're sitting, Milly, Billy;
O, the winter winds are wondrous chilly!
'Winter weather,
Close together;
Wouldn't tarry,
Better marry.
Milly, Billy,
Billy, Milly,
Two-one, one-two,
Don't wait, 'twon't do,
Knockety-nick, nickety-knock, '-
Goes the kitchen clock.

Winters two have gone, and where is Milly?
Spring has come again, and where is Billy?
'Give me credit,
For I did it;
Treat me kindly,
Mind you wind me.
Mister Billy,
Mistress Milly,
My-O, O-my,
By-by, by-by,
Nickety-knock, cradle rock, '-
Goes the kitchen clock.


by John Vance Cheney.