Friday, June 02, 2006

Poetry Friday: Nursery Rhymes

Everyone has a favorite nursery rhyme or two. My favorite is a short one:

There was a crooked man,
and he walked a crooked mile.
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat,
which caught a crooked mouse,
and they all lived together in a crooked little house.

I have no idea why I like this one so much. Always have though. Here's the wikipedia entry on the rhyme's origins:
  • "It has been suggested that the rhyme refers to Charles I's rule over England, Scotland and Ireland. Specifically, it has been suggested that the "crooked man" whose story is told in the rhyme is actually Alexander Leslie, while the stile is the border between England and Scotland, the house being a symbol of agreement between the opposing forces and groups"

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Other Poetry Friday contributions: Michele at Scholar's Blog gets the ball rolling early with a Thursday celebration of John Masefield's birthday. A Fuse #8 Production begins a review with a little Shel Silverstein. Wendy at Blog from the Windowsill recommends two picture books about poetic form (very cool!).

More: Susan at Chicken Spaghetti directs us to James Wright's "A Blessing." Anne at Book Buds recommends a fabulous-sounding Hippopotamus Stew and Other Silly Animal Poems, by Joan Horton and illustrated by Joann Adinolfi. Becky at Farm School thinks we all could use a little more Ogden Nash (I agree) and shares some poetry news. Jen of Jen Robinson's Book Page shares a charming poem "by" Emily of New Moon (L.M. Montgomery). Melissa Wiley shares Seamus Heaney with an audio bonus at Here in the Bonny Glen. Christine at The Simple and the Ordinary offers a lovely H.S. Fritsch poem in honor of her birthday. Congratulations, Christine! Leila at Bookshelves of Doom brings us the ever-fabulous Jaberwocky. Oooh! And, Gregory K. contributes a parody of "Jaberwocky" at Gottabook.

And more: Liz B. shows Shakespeare is always in style at A Chair, a Fireplace and a Tea Cozy. Susan Taylor Brown (our next blogging writer at The Edge of the Forest!) shares some original verse. Renee contributes a great Charlotte Zolotow poem called"Enemies" at So Glad I'm Here.