March 4 is National Pound Cake Day.

According to Wikipedia, “Pound cake refers to a type of cake traditionally made with a pound of each of four ingredients: flour, butter, eggs, and sugar.”

So that is why it’s called that—it has nothing to do with pounding. Somebody please tell that to the schoolyard bully who, 40 years ago, asked me menacingly, “Want a pound cake?” and I knew that she wasn’t offering me cake. (Yes, my bully was a girl.)

In this commercial for Sara Lee pound cake, Christopher Hewett (TV’s own “Mr. Belvedere”) recites a plaintive poem, “Who ate the Sara Lee?” while holding an empty tin.

Sara Lee pound cake commercial with Christopher Hewett (1970s)

Who ate the Sara Lee?
Who ate the piece that I saved for me?
Who just couldn’t resist?
Who ate the Sara Lee?

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,   
And miles to go before I sleep,   
And miles to go before I sleep.

Related articles

• National Pound Cake Day (eatocracy.cnn.com)