DEPENDABLE WAKE-UP-ER

Some persons waken at the noise

    Of newsboys bringing papers;

And others hear alarming clocks,

    Or careless milkmen's capers.

I'm told few wake to honeyed calls,

    As loved ones' voices coo;

And many heed the barnyard fowl's

    Gay "cock-a-doodle-doo!"

Are you aroused by singing birds,

    In near-by trees, each morning;

Or: "Hey! get up - or you'll be late!"

    Or some such pleasing warning?

Though many wake-up systems thrive,

    I'd recommend to you

As most reliable of all,

    A baby's loud "boo-hoo!"

                                        -Lyla Myers