FORGETFUL PA

My Pa says that he used to be

A bright boy in geography;

An’ when he went to school he knew

The rivers an’ the mountains, too,

An’ all the capitals of states

An’ bound'ry lines an’ all the dates

They joined the union. But last night

When I was studyin’ to recite

I asked him if he would explain

The leading industries of Maine —

He thought an’ thought an’ thought a lot,

An’ said, “I knew, but I've forgot.”

My Pa says when he was in school

He got a hundred as a rule;

An’ grammar was a thing he knew

Becoz he paid attention to

His teacher, an’ he learned the way

To write good English, an’ to say

The proper things, an’ I should be

As good a boy in school as he.

But once I asked him could he give

Me help with the infinitive —

He scratched his head and said: “Great Scott!

I used to know, but I've forgot.”

My Pa says when he was a boy

Arithmetic was just a toy;

He learned his tables mighty fast

An’ every term he always passed,

An’ had good marks, an’ teachers said:

“That youngster surely has a head.”

But just the same I notice now

Most every time I ask him how

To find the common multiple,

He says, “That's most unusual!

Once I'd have told you on the spot,

But somehow, sonny, I've forgot.”

I'm tellin’ you just what is what,

My Pa's forgot an awful lot!