Living

The Girl Across the Way

by Mary Mapes Dodge 1831–1905

From Rhymes and Jingles (1875)

Living

Little girl across the way,
You are so very sweet,
I shouldn't be a bit surprised
If you were good to eat.

Some day, when all the blinds are shut,
And Sis is inside thrummin'
(She's takin' music-lessons now),
And horses aint a-comin',

I'll run across and turn your rope,
Or pull you in your wagon;
But don't you tell that I said so,
'Cause they might call it braggin.'

If you would only come to me
We'd play at "Catch and Toss;"
But then my Ma objects to girls,
And it might make her cross.

Now what I'd like, if you would too,
Would be to go and play--
Well, all the time, and all my life,
On your side of the way.

I don't know anybody yet
On your side of the street,
But often I look over there
And watch you--you're so sweet!

When I am big, I tell you what,
I won't care what they say,
I'll go across and stay there too,
On your side of the way.

MLA

Dodge, Mary Mapes. “The Girl Across the Way.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/dodge_mm/184/.

Chicago

Dodge, Mary Mapes. “The Girl Across the Way.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/dodge_mm/184/.

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