Poems About Manners

Table of Contents

1. Golden Keys

   Hearts, like doors, oft ope with ease
   To very, very little keys,
   And don't forget that two are these:
   "I thank you, sir," and "If you please."
   

   – Anonymous
   Golden Keys

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   by Anonymous

   
   

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   A bunch of golden keys is mine
   To make each day with gladness shine.
   "Good morning" is the golden key
   That unlocks every door for me.
   

   When evening comes, "Good Night" I say,
   And close the door of each glad day.
   When at the table, "If You Please"
   I take from off my bunch of keys.
   

   When friends give anything to me
   I'll use the "Thank You" key,
   "Excuse me," "Beg your pardon, too,"
   When by mistake some harm I do,
   Or, if unkindly harm I've given,
   With "Forgive me," I shall be forgiven.
   

   On a golden ring these keys I'll bind,
   This is its motto—"Be ye kind."
   I'll often use each golden key,
   And then a child polite I'll be.
   

   Hearts, like doors, oft ope with ease
   To very, very little keys,
   And don't forget that two are these:
   "I thank you, sir," and "If you please."
   

2. Politeness

   by Elizabeth Turner

   Good little boys should never say
   "I will," and "Give me these";
   O, no! that never is the way,
   But "Mother, if you please."
   

   And "If you please," to Sister Ann
   Good boys to say are ready;
   And, "Yes, sir," to a Gentleman,
   And, "Yes, ma'am," to a Lady.
   

3. Rules of Behavior

   by Anonymous

   
   

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   Hearts, like doors, will ope with ease
   To very, very little keys,
   And don't forget that two of these
   Are "I thank you" and "If you please."
   

   Come when you're called,
   Do what you're bid,
   Close the door after you,
   Never be chid.
   

   Seldom "can't,"
   Seldom "don't;"
   Never "shan't,"
   Never "won't."
   

4. The Little Gentleman

   Be content with what is good:
   Seek in all things that you can
   To be a little gentleman.
   

   – Anonymous
   The Little Gentleman

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   by Anonymous

   
   

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   Take your meals, my little man,
   Always like a gentleman;
   Wash your face and hands with care,
   Change your shoes, and brush your hair;
   Then so fresh, and clean, and neat,
   Come and take your proper seat:
   Do not loiter and be late,
   Making other people wait;
   

   Do not rudely point or touch:
   Do not eat and drink too much:
   Finish what you have, before
   You even ask, or send for more:
   Never crumble or destroy
   Food that others might enjoy;
   They who idly crumbs will waste
   Often want a loaf to taste!
   Never spill your milk or tea,
   Never rude or noisy be;
   Never choose the daintiest food,
   Be content with what is good:
   Seek in all things that you can
   To be a little gentleman.
   

5. Little Fred

   by Anonymous

   
   

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   When little Fred
   Was called to bed,
   He always acted right;
   He kissed Mama,
   And then Papa,
   And wished them all good-night.
   

   He made no noise,
   Like naughty boys,
   But gently up the stairs
   Directly went,
   When he was sent,
   And always said his prayers.
   

6. The Crust of Bread

   For wilful waste makes woeful want

   – Anonymous
   The Crust of Bread

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   by Anonymous

   
   

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   I must not throw upon the floor
   The crust I cannot eat;
   For many little hungry ones
   Would think it quite a treat.
   

   My parents labor very hard
   To get me wholesome food;
   Then I must never waste a bit
   That would do others good.
   

   For wilful waste makes woeful want,
   And I may live to say,
   Oh! how I wish I had the bread
   That once I threw away!
   

7. The Reformation of Godfrey Gore

   by William Brighty Rands

   
   

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   Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore—
   No doubt you have heard the name before—
   Was a boy who never would shut a door!
   

   The wind might whistle, the wind might roar,
   And teeth be aching and throats be sore,
   But still he never would shut the door.
   

   His father would beg, his mother implore,
   "Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore,
   We really do wish you would shut the door!"
   

   Their hands they wrung, their hair they tore;
   But Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore
   Was deaf as the buoy out at the Nore.
   

   When he walked forth the folks would roar,
   "Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore,
   Why don't you think to shut the door?"
   

   They rigged out a Shutter with sail and oar,
   And threatened to pack off Gustavus Gore
   On a voyage of penance to Singapore.
   

   But he begged for mercy, and said, "No more!
   Pray do not send me to Singapore
   On a Shutter, and then I will shut the door!"
   

   "You will?" said his parents; "then keep on shore!
   But mind you do! For the plague is sore
   Of a fellow that never will shut the door,
   Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore!"
   

8. Table Manners

   by Oliver Marble

   
   

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   When Teddy Bears are brought to table
   They do not clatter forks and knives;
   They act as well as they are able,
   And do so all their lives.
   

   They do not tip back in their chairs,
   Or leave the spoon within the cup,
   Or crook a finger for fine airs;
   They're very well brought up.
   

   They keep their mouths shut when they're chewing,
   Nor chew aloud, nor smack their lips;
   They're quite refined, whatever's doing—
   They drink not gulps, but sips.
   

   They speak when they are spoken to;
   Their elbows are not up, but down;
   They say, "Yes, please," and "I thank you,"
   As if they lived in town.
   

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