Webster's says "booby" refers to any of several small gannets of tropical seas; any of several American ducks; an awkward foolish person; the poorest performer or lowest scorer in a group. A modification of Spanish bobo, from L. balbus, meaning "stammering".

"babble", on the other hand, derives from ME babelen, prob. of imit. origin.

"babbitt metal" - an alloy used for lining bearings. to "babbitt" is to line or furnish with babbitt metal.

Which reminds me of this early prom, circa 1971:


CONVERSATIONS WITH TIME TO SPARE

"We have three now, we have three now, we have three. Keep those three."

"We have three minutes, ladies and gentlemen:
Jake, Maria, and Bobo of Minneapolis.
Jake and Maria are alone together
with the creek and the sun will watch itself
go down in a puddle, now watch Bobo,
he's going to fall,
do it Maria -"

compass dance. Jake, Maria and
being here makes it all so necessary to refer back
inside the orange for another point of view.
"This man is a. . . foot." A foot, yes, but
one of the best. He's not any kind of foot,
he's an ordinary foot. Leave him,
crowd, the summer will enjoy him -
he'll answer back with frequent, often
dazzling postcards, with details from his life
in toenail clippings, articles of hair, smiles.

"I suppose you're all wondering why I called you Herby.
It's an easy-going sort of name,
one which
you might as well throw away as construct into
subtle, silent postcards." (three, three, three. . .)

The kids in the front yard are playing statue.
It's a subtle, humorous game - several
domesticated animals join in too - the grandparents
play croquet or sit on the porch,
relaxing in the hot air,
in their friendly, birthday skins.