The Jam up on the cupboard shelf
The little girl thought she'd help herself.
How to get way up high?
She thought a chair she might try.
Up on the chair, that's done the trick,
Soon she would have that jam to lick.
Opening up the cupboard door
And in-to the kitchen's store
But before the jam her arm could reach
Violet came with a lesson to teach:
"You must not take the jam alone,
You'll stain the frock so carefully sewn.
All over yourself the jam you'd smear
If, just in time, I did not appear,
And the jam's not yours to take
If you did, the rules you would break."
You must not take that which is not your own
Was the lesson Violet to her sister had shown.

To Auntie Nicey you must go,
Ask her nicely and manners you must show.
After Auntie Nicey has said "Yes, you may"
And "Thank you, for the treat" we, of course, must say,
She will get the jam, as we take our seat
And make sure we are nice and neat.
We enjoy our jam, with bib tied round
And, until next time, the jam pot is put up, safe and sound.

by Sarah E. Johnson