Margery Daw

See-saw, Margery Daw
Sold her bed to lie upon straw;
Wasn't she a nasty slut
To sell her bed and lie upon dirt?

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 Vain Jackdaw

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

The Lazy Housemaids

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

Hot Cross Buns

Walter Crane, Simple Poetry

The Mulberry Bush

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. CCXCV. Games.

    See, Saw, Margery Daw,
    Sold her bed and lay upon straw;
    Was not she a dirty slut,
    To sell her bed and lie in the dirt!

Unknown

The Old Woman Tossed Up In A Blanket

There was an old woman tossed up in a blanket,
Seventeen times as high as the moon;
Where she was going I could not but ask it,
For in her hand she carried a broom.
"Old woman, old woman, old woman," quoth I;
"O whither, O whither, O whither so high?"
"To sweep the cobwebs from the sky,
And I'll be with you by-and-by!"

Walter Crane

The Little Woman And The Pedlar

There was a little woman, as I've heard say,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle dol;
She went to market, her eggs for to sell,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle dol.
She went to market all on a market day,
And she fell asleep upon the king's highway;
Fol de rol de lol lol lol lol lol,
Fol, lol, diddle, diddle dol.]

2 And there came a pedlar whose name was Stout,
Fol, lol, &c.,
He cut her petticoats all round about,
Fol, lol, &c.,
He cut her petticoats up to her knees,
Which made the little woman to shiver and freeze,
Fol de rol, &c.

3 When the little woman began to awake,
Fol, lol, &c.,
She began to shiver, and she began to shake,
Fol, lol, &c.,
She began to shake, and s...

Walter Crane

The Lazy Housemaids

Two Maids killed the Rooster whose warning
Awoke them too soon every morning:
But small were their gains,
For their Mistress took pains
To rouse them herself without warning.

Laziness Is Its Own Punishment

Walter Crane

The Old Woman Of Norwich

There was an old woman and what do you think?
She lived upon nothing but victuals and drink;
Victuals and drink were the chief of her diet,
Yet this plaguey old woman could never be quiet.

Walter Crane

Sister Maude

Who told my mother of my shame,
    Who told my father of my dear?
Oh who but Maude, my sister Maude,
    Who lurked to spy and peer.

Cold he lies, as cold as stone,
    With his clotted curls about his face:
The comeliest corpse in all the world
    And worthy of a queen's embrace.

You might have spared his soul, sister,
    Have spared my soul, your own soul too:
Though I had not been born at all,
    He'd never have looked at you.

My father may sleep in Paradise,
    My mother at Heaven-gate:
But sister Maude shall get no sleep
    Either early or late.

My father may wear a golden gown,
    My mother a crown may win;
If my dear and I knocked at Heaven-gate
    Perhaps they'd let us in:
But sister Maude, oh sister ...

Christina Georgina Rossetti