Thoughts from the Dirty City

by Gillette Burgess

The Goops they lick their fingers
And the Goops they lick their knives:
They spill their broth on the tablecloth
Oh, they lead disgusting lives!
The Goops they talk while eating,
And loud and fast they chew;
And that is why I’m glad that I
Am not a Goop, are you?

In keeping with yesterday’s post, I have decided to revisit my youth a bit. When I was little I could recite this poem by heart, but still made my dad read it to me every night before bed. If I think back on my childhood, this poem and the book it came from is one of the first things that come to mind. Just thinking about the detailed wood cut prints that illustrated each of the pages makes me smile.

I would love to recommend the book, but it has long been out of print. It is called “The Children’s Book of Literature” and is a large collection classic children’s stories, poems and fable’s.

And, just in case you are wondering: I AM actually a GOOP. Always have been, always will be.