rhyming1

ruRal rHymiNg

"The time has come," said the walrus,

"To speak of other things.

..of shoes and ships and ceiling wax,

. . . .and cabbages & kings."

From Thru The Looking Glass

Memories from the heart~
The next two rhymes are what we, in the
Rural South called, "counting rhymes."
Many countless hours were passed with the
sounds of children's voices chanting.
Though the words may vary from those familiar
to you, this is how they were passed down from
the generations before me.

One, two, buckle my shoe;

Three, four, shut the door;

Five, six, pick up sticks;

Seven, eight, lay them straight;

Nine, ten, a big fat hen.

Eleven, twelve, dig the well;

Thirteen, fourteen, maids a-courting;

Fifteen, sixteen, maids in the kitchen;

Seventeen, eighteen, maids awaiting;

Nineteen, twenty, my plate's empty!

Four little ducks

went out one day;

over the hills

and far away.

Mother duck said,

quack-quack, quack-quack;

but only three

little ducks came back

     Three little ducks
     went out one day;
     over the hills
     and far away.
     Mother duck said,
     quack-quack, quack-quack;
     but only
     two little ducks came back.

     Two little ducks
     went out one day;
     over the hills
     and far away.
     Mother duck said,
     quack-quack, quack-quack;
     but only
     one little duck came back.

     One little duck
     went out one day;
     over the hills
     and far away.
     Mother duck said,
     quack-quack, quack-quack;
     but none
     of those little ducks came back.

Mother duck,

she went out one day;

over the hills

and far away.

Mother duck said,

quack-quack, quack-quack;

and all

of those little ducks came back.

Star Light Star Bright

The first star I see tonight

A wish I make, I wish you might

Make my wish come true tonight

Sing a song a six pence,

a pocket full of rye;

four and twenty black-birds,

baked in a pie.

When the pie was opened,

the birds began to sing;

wasn't that a dainty dish,

to set before the king?

The king was in his counting house,
counting out his money;
the queen was in the parlor,
eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden,
hanging out the clothes;
down flew a black-bird,
and pecked off her nose.

Three blind mice,

three blind mice.

See how they run,

see how they run.

They all run after

the farmers wife.

Who cut off their tails

with a carving knife.

Did you ever see

such a thing in your life?

As three blind mice,

three blind mice.

Mary had a little lamb,

little lamb, little lamb;

Mary had a little lamb,

it's fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went,

Mary went, Mary went;

And everywhere that Mary went,

the lamb was sure to go.

It followed her to school one day,

school one day, school one day;

It followed her to school one day,

that was against the rule.

It made the children laugh and play,

laugh and play, laugh and play;

It made the children laugh and play,

to see a lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned him out,
turned him out, turned him out;
And so the teacher turned him out,
but still he lingered near.

It waited patiently about,
patiently, patiently;
It waited patiently about,
till Mary did appear.

What makes the lamb love Mary so,
Mary so, Mary so;
What makes the lamb love Mary so,
the eager children cry.

Mary loves the lamb you know,
lamb you know, lamb you know;
Mary loves the lamb you know,
the teacher did reply.

~~~~~~And More recently~~~~~

I will not play Tug O' War,

I'd rather play Hug O' War;

Where everyone hugs, instead of tugs,

And everyone giggles and everyone grins;

and in this game -- everyone wins!

Read My very favorite,

WYNKEN, BLYNKEN, & NOD

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