--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Me, Polly Garter, under the washing line…" description: "\"Me, Polly Garter, under the washing line, giving the breast in the garden to my bonny new baby. Nothing grows in our garden, only washing. And babies. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/dylan-thomas-1889_baby_me-polly-garter-under-the-washing-line-g_1018210.jpg" --- # Me, Polly Garter, under the washing line, giving the… ![“Me, Polly Garter, under the washing line, giving the breast in the garden to my bonny new baby. Nothing grows in our garden, only washing. And babies. And where's their fathers live, my love? Over the hills and far away. You're looking up at me now. I know what you're thinking, you poor little…” quote by Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/dylan-thomas-1889_baby_me-polly-garter-under-the-washing-line-g_1018210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/dylan-thomas-1889_baby_me-polly-garter-under-the-washing-line-g_1018210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/dylan-thomas-1889_baby_me-polly-garter-under-the-washing-line-g_1018210.jpg) > “Me, Polly Garter, under the washing line, giving the breast in the garden to my bonny new baby. Nothing grows in our garden, only washing. And babies. And where's their fathers live, my love? Over the hills and far away. You're looking up at me now. I know what you're thinking, you poor little milky creature. You're thinking, you're no better than you should be, Polly, and that's good enough for me. Oh, isn't life a terrible thing, thank God?” [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses existential melancholy and yearning for connection amid mundane domestic life **In simple terms:** Life feels bleak yet grateful, yearning for meaning and love Key Takeaway Embrace love despite life's hardships Themes love existentialism domestic life yearning gratitude Mood sad hopeful contemplative Type poetic personal When to use this quote - personal journaling - creative writing - therapy sessions - family discussions Key Concepts loneliness family nature spiritual yearning Questions to Reflect On - What gives you hope in ordinary moments? - How do you reconcile love with life's hardships? A Different Perspective The tone may romanticize suffering, overlooking practical solutions ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Babies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babies/) [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden/) [Garters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garters/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hills/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [New baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-baby/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Oh, isn't life a terrible thing, thank God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/oh-isn-t-life-a-terrible-thing-thank-god/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Babies are the best gifts God can give us and I am glad you just received one. Congratulations and take care of this little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/babies-are-the-best-gifts-god-can-give-us-and-i-am-glad-you-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Am I the only one that thinks it is wrong to let parents decide if their infant should get their ears pierced? I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-sinnett/am-i-the-only-one-that-thinks-it-is-wrong-to-let-parents-decide-if/) [Connor Sinnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-sinnett/) > [A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights shorter, bank balance smaller, home happier, clothes dirty, the past forgotten, and the future worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-baby-will-make-love-stronger-days-shorter-nights-shorter-bank/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love the whole lingerie outfit - you know, thigh-high tights and garters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lyn-o-keefe/i-love-the-whole-lingerie-outfit-you-know-thigh-high-tights-and/) [Jodi Lyn O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lyn-o-keefe/) > [The Democrats talked about putting people first. Well, they put people first unless you happen to be a spotted owl or a giant garter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/the-democrats-talked-about-putting-people-first-well-they-put-people/) [Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/) > [Behold the child, by Nature's kindly law, Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw; Some livelier plaything gives his youth delight, A little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/behold-the-child-by-nature-s-kindly-law-pleased-with-a-rattle-tickled-2/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Knitting is formed by a series of loops pulled through loops to the end of time or to 'desired length'. By picking up loops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-is-formed-by-a-series-of-loops-pulled-through-loops-to-the/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [I must admit to a personal lack of sympathy with women who have themselves photographed in black stockings, garter belts and boots, with bare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-r-lippard/i-must-admit-to-a-personal-lack-of-sympathy-with-women-who-have/) [Lucy R. Lippard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-r-lippard/) > [My worst memory is of my first dance lesson as a 14-year old in Prague. My mother put me in this silver and pink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/my-worst-memory-is-of-my-first-dance-lesson-as-a-14-year-old-in/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [All I have to be thankful for in this world is that I was sitting down when my garter busted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/all-i-have-to-be-thankful-for-in-this-world-is-that-i-was-sitting/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [A garter. You’re supposed to take it off and keep it as a memento. K-k-kinda like a trophy for going far sexually with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/a-garter-you-re-supposed-to-take-it-off-and-keep-it-as-a-memento-k-k/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [“The Flowers All the names I know from nurse: Gardener's garters, Shepherd's purse, Bachelor's buttons, Lady's smock, And the Lady Hollyhock. Fairy places, fairy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/the-flowers-all-the-names-i-know-from-nurse-gardener-s-garters/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [It is the highest and most legitimate pride of an Englishman to have the letters M.P. written after his name. No selection from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/it-is-the-highest-and-most-legitimate-pride-of-an-englishman-to-have/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“Silk stockings. With garters . Well, they were out. There were a lot of things he'd do for Sybil, but if garters figured anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/silk-stockings-with-garters-well-they-were-out-there-were-a-lot-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More by Dylan Thomas > [I liked the taste of beer, its live, white lather, its brass-bright depths, the sudden world through the wet-brown walls of the glass, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-liked-the-taste-of-beer-its-live-white-lather-its-brass-bright/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [There is only one position for an artist anywhere; and that is upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/there-is-only-one-position-for-an-artist-anywhere-and-that-is-upright/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [“Thousands of miles,' I said. It's Rhosilli, USA. We're going to camp on a bit of rock that wobbles in the winds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/thousands-of-miles-i-said-it-s-rhosilli-usa-we-re-going-to-camp-on-a/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [One Christmas was so much like another, in those years around the sea-town corner now and out of all sound except the distant speaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/one-christmas-was-so-much-like-another-in-those-years-around-the-sea/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [I hold a beast, an angel, and a madman in me, and my enquiry is as to their working, and my problem is their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-hold-a-beast-an-angel-and-a-madman-in-me-and-my-enquiry-is-as-to/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Youth calls to age across the tired years: 'What have you found,' he cries, 'what have you sought?" 'What have you found,' age answers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/youth-calls-to-age-across-the-tired-years-what-have-you-found-he/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Do not go gentle into that goodnight, rage, rage against the dying of the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/do-not-go-gentle-into-that-goodnight-rage-rage-against-the-dying-of/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [To begin, at the beginning...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/to-begin-at-the-beginning/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [A born writer is born scrofulous; his career is an accident dictated by physical or circumstantial disabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/a-born-writer-is-born-scrofulous-his-career-is-an-accident-dictated/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Rhianon, he said, hold my hand, Rhianon. She did not hear him, but stood over his bed and fixed him with an unbroken sorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/rhianon-he-said-hold-my-hand-rhianon-she-did-not-hear-him-but-stood/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [I know in London a Welsh hairdresser who has striven so vehemently to abolish his accent that he sounds like a man speaking with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-know-in-london-a-welsh-hairdresser-who-has-striven-so-vehemently-to/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Dark is a way and light is a place, Heaven that never was Nor will be ever is always true "Poem on His Birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/dark-is-a-way-and-light-is-a-place-heaven-that-never-was-nor-will-be/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [And now, gentlemen, like your manners, I must leave you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/and-now-gentlemen-like-your-manners-i-must-leave-you/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [Now behind the eyes and secrets of the dreamers in the streets rocked to sleep by the sea, see the titbits and topsyturvies, bobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/now-behind-the-eyes-and-secrets-of-the-dreamers-in-the-streets-rocked/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) > [I believe in New Yorkers. Whether they’ve ever questioned the dream in which they live, I wouldn’t know, because I won’t ever dare ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/i-believe-in-new-yorkers-whether-they-ve-ever-questioned-the-dream-in/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) [Explore all 201 Dylan Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) ## More Babies quotes > [When I'm on Twitter, we just talk to people. I call all my Twitter followers my 'Twitter babies.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rozonda-thomas/when-i-m-on-twitter-we-just-talk-to-people-i-call-all-my-twitter/) [Rozonda Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rozonda-thomas/) > [If all fooles had babies, wee should want fuell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/if-all-fooles-had-babies-wee-should-want-fuell/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Yes, I'm a nice man and I enjoy babies. I'm a sensitive guy. I held a baby the other day and it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-shandling/yes-i-m-a-nice-man-and-i-enjoy-babies-i-m-a-sensitive-guy-i-held-a/) [Garry Shandling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-shandling/) > [It was an odd coincidence that my career took off the same decade as having babies. I often wished it had been different, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-kaczmarek/it-was-an-odd-coincidence-that-my-career-took-off-the-same-decade-as/) [Jane Kaczmarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-kaczmarek/) > [My videos, the ones I produced and co-directed and came up with a treatment from scratch - those are my babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/my-videos-the-ones-i-produced-and-co-directed-and-came-up-with-a/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [“you like babies, don't you? he asked... I have a marginally higher opinion of them than Herod, she said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-mcgown/you-like-babies-don-t-you-he-asked-i-have-a-marginally-higher-opinion/) Jill McGown > [God looks out for fools and babies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshell-ndegeocello/god-looks-out-for-fools-and-babies/) [Meshell Ndegeocello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshell-ndegeocello/) > [“Babies who do not sleep ‘through the night’ alone in a cot, as soon as possible after birth, are seen as a ‘problem’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-palmer/babies-who-do-not-sleep-through-the-night-alone-in-a-cot-as-soon-as/) [Gabrielle Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-palmer/) > [Babies don't need a vacation, but I still see them at the beach... it pisses me off! I'll go over to a little baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/babies-don-t-need-a-vacation-but-i-still-see-them-at-the-beach-it/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“...For having a baby's sweet face so close to your own, for so long a time as it takes to nurse 'em, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-eisdorfer/for-having-a-baby-s-sweet-face-so-close-to-your-own-for-so-long-a/) [Erica Eisdorfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-eisdorfer/) > [Babies like fat. Like to bury they face up in you armpit and go to sleep. They like big fat legs too. 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I want to keep my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/babies-are-great-but-i-am-not-ready-to-have-one-maybe-ten-years-from/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) [Browse all 814 Babies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/babies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Me, Polly Garter, under the washing line, giving the breast in the garden to my bonny new baby. Nothing grows in our garden, only washing. And babies. And where's their fathers live, my love? Over the hills and far away. You're looking up at me now. I know what you're thinking, you poor little milky creature. You're thinking, you're no better than you should be, Polly, and that's good enough for me. 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