James Reeves

Mrs. Gilfillan

When Mrs. Gilfillan
	Is troubled with troubles,
She flies to the kitchen
	And sits blowing bubbles.
When Mrs. Gilfillan
	Is worried by money,
When her feet are like lead
	And her head’s feeling funny,
When there’s too much to do,
	And the chimney is smoking,
And everything’s awkward
	And wrong and provoking,
When the washing won’t dry
	For the rain’s never ending,
When cupboards need cleaning
	And stockings want mending,
When the neighbors complain
	Of the noise of the cat,
And she ought to be looking
	For this and for that,
And never a line comes
	From her married daughter –
Then off to the kitchen	
	With soap and warm water
Goes Mrs. Gilfillan
	And all of her troubles;
And she puffs them away	
	In a great cloud of bubbles.
In joyful abandon
	She puffs them and blows them,
And all round about her	
	In rapture she throws them;
When round, clear and shiny
	They hang in the air,
Away like a shadow
	Goes worry and care.