You have a little prisoner;
He’s nimble, sharp and clever;
He’s sure to get away from you
Unless you watch him ever.
And when he once gets out, he makes
More trouble in an hour
Than you can stop in many a day,
Working with all your power.
He gets your playmates by the ears
And says what is not so;
He uses many ugly words
Not good for you to know.
Quick, fasten shut the ivory gates
And chain him while he’s young;
For this same dangerous prisoner
Is just . . . your little tongue.
ML-02/21/1993