"I'm Ozma too, says Isabel."

[ailbhe]

Today is a day for doing everything together. The children danced together, ate toast together, and did pages of the maths thing from Plymouth together. Now they are peeling oranges together. In a minute, however, all this beautiful sharing caring togetherness will end, as Linnea eats her orange and Emer dismembers hers and renders it fit only for the wormery.

I use the term "renders" advisedly.

Ogden Nash wrote about it, and I found a copy here (I note that this mentions Little Black Sambo, which is irritating of it; I wouldn't want it to surprise anyone):

RAINY DAY
Ogden Nash (1902-1971)
Linell is clad in a gown of green.
She walks in state like a fairy queen.
Her train is tucked in a winsome bunch
Directly behind her royal lunch.
With a dignified skip and a haughty hop
Her golden slippers go clippety-clop.
I think I am Ozma, says Linell.
I’m Ozma too, says Isabel.

Linell has discovered a filmy veil;
The very thing for a swishy tail.
The waves wash over the nursery floor
And break on the rug with a rumbling roar;
The swishy tail gives a swishy swish;
She’s off and away like a frightened fish.
Now I’m a mermaid, says Linell.
I’m mermaid too, says Isabel.

Her trousers are blue, her hair is kinky,
Her jacket is red and her skin inky.
She is hiding behind a green umbrella;
She couldn’t be Alice, or Cinderella,
Or Puss in Boots, or the Fiddlers Three;
Gracious Gulliver, who can she be?
I’m Little Black Sambo, says Linell.
I’m Sambo too, says Isabel.

Clack the shutters. The blinds are drawn.
Click the switch, and the lights are gone.
Linell is under the blankets deep,
Murmuring down the hill to sleep.
Oh, deep in the soft and gentle dark
She stirs and chirps like a drowsy lark.
I love you, Mummy, says Linell.
Love Mummy too, says Isabel.