New at IWP Books: Richard Armour, 1950, For Partly Proud Parents (Introduction by Phyllis McGinley).

Raising the Question

When I grow vexed and weary
 From Junior’s ceaseless “Why?”
His morn-to-evening query
 About the earth and sky,

My nerves are nearly shattered,
 My patience flickers low,
But how my ego’s flattered
 To think he’d think I know!

Deflation

Sons and daughters
In their teens
Think their parents
Don’t know beans.

Which would not be
Hard to face
Were it not so
Oft the case.

One More

One more story,
One more game,
Then we’ll scamper —
So they claim.

One more giant,
One more jump,
Of to bed
They say they’ll hump\ldots.

One’s so few
It’s hardly any —
Strange one more
Can be so many!