Dance A Baby

Dance a baby diddy!
What can mammy do wid'e?
Sit in her lap,
Give it some pap,
And dance a baby diddy!

Walter Crane

Walter Crane was an English artist and book illustrator, considered to be one of the most prolific and influential children's book creators of his generation. Born on August 15, 1845, and passing away on March 14, 1915, he was part of the Arts and Crafts movement and is known for his innovative contributions to children's literature. His work often combined art and poetry, aiming to educate and delight young readers.

Walter Crane

The Fir & The Bramble

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

The Two Jars

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

The Hares And The Frogs

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXC. Lullabies.

    Danty baby diddy,
    What can a mammy do wid'e,
        But sit in a lap,
        And give 'un a pap?
    Sing danty baby diddy.

Unknown

Hush-A-By Baby

Hush-a-by baby on the tree-top,
When the wind blows the cradle will rock;
When the bough breaks the cradle will fall--
Down comes baby, cradle and all!

Walter Crane

Lavender's Blue

1.
Lavender's blue, diddle, diddle!
Lavender's green;
When I am king, diddle, diddle!
You shall be queen.

2.
Call up your men, diddle, diddle!
Set them to work;
Some to the plough, diddle, diddle!
Some to the cart.

3.
Some to make hay, diddle, diddle!
Some to cut corn;
While you and I, diddle, diddle!
Keep ourselves warm.

Walter Crane

Nursery Rhyme. CCCI. Games.

        [This should be accompanied by a kind of pantomimic dance, in which the motions of the body and arms express the process of weaving; the motion of the shuttle, & c.]

    Weave the diaper tick-a-tick tick,
    Weave the diaper tick -
    Come this way, come that
    As close as a mat,
    Athwart and across, up and down, round about,
    And forwards, and backwards, and inside, and out;
    Weave the diaper thick-a-thick thick,
    Weave the diaper thick!

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXXXI. Lullabies.

    Dance, little baby, dance up high,
    Never mind, baby, mother is by;
    Crow and caper, caper and crow,
    There, little baby, there you go;
    Up to the ceiling, down to the ground.
    Backwards and forwards, round and round;
    Dance, little baby, and mother will sing,
    With the merry coral, ding, ding, ding!

Unknown

Hey Diddle Diddle

Hey diddle diddle! the cat and the fiddle,
The cow skipt over the moon;
The little dog laughed to see the fine sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Walter Crane