Living

Benny's Buttons

by Mary Mapes Dodge 1831–1905

From Rhymes and Jingles (1875)

Living

How many buttons has Benny,
Counting 'em six for a penny?
Why, five on his sacque,
And two on the back,
And--would you believe?--
A pair on each sleeve;
And six on his trowsers,
Yes, regular rousers!
And eight on his vest--
A grand double-breast--
All eight in full sight
When buttoned up tight.
Then three on one shoe,
While the mate has but two;
And one at the end
Of his top-snare, depend.
And, ah! there's the strap
On his regiment-cap,
It begins with a button
And ends with a button;
And really that's all
I now can recall.
So, counting them six for a penny,
How many buttons has Benny?

MLA

Dodge, Mary Mapes. “Benny's Buttons.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/dodge_mm/192/.

Chicago

Dodge, Mary Mapes. “Benny's Buttons.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/dodge_mm/192/.

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