For goodness sake (says Ruby)
I know how to spell AND.
You don’t have to write it
in fancy writing.

For goodness sake,
I know how to spell A.
It’s just one letter.
That’s how we spell it at school.

Marie said, “What’s that tattoo
and can I have one too?”
and I said,
For goodness sake, no!

It’s already ruined.
I washed it and it’s blurry.
For goodness sake,
no!

*

Rachel McAlpine

Poem uttered by Ruby, aged 6