Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXV. Paradoxes.

    Up stairs, down stairs, upon my lady's window,
    There I saw a cup of sack and a race of ginger;
    Apples at the fire, and nuts to crack,
    A little boy in the cream-pot up to his neck.

Unknown

The identity of this poet is not known. Their works, which are often of significant historical or cultural value, have been attributed to 'Unknown'. This designation is commonly used when the creator of works, ranging from ancient texts to more modern writings, remains anonymous or uncredited. Despite the lack of personal details, the impact and importance of these works endure, offering insight into the eras and cultures from which they originated.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. LXXV. Tales.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DXXXV. Natural History. [Bird boy's song.]

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DLXVIII. Natural History.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DLXXIV. Natural History.

Unknown , 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. CCCLXXII. Paradoxes.

There was an old woman had nothing,
    And there came thieves to rob her;
When she cried out she made no noise,
    But all the country heard her.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXIV. Paradoxes.

    There was a man of Newington,
        And he was wond'rous wise,
    He jump'd into a quickset hedge,
        And scratch'd out both his eyes:
    But when he saw his eyes were out,
        With all his might and main,
    He jump'd into another hedge,
        And scratch'd 'em in again.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXXIV. Paradoxes.

        [Mind your punctuation!]

    I saw a peacock with a fiery tail,
    I saw a blazing comet drop down hail,
    I saw a cloud wrapped with ivy round,
    I saw an oak creep upon the ground,
    I saw a pismire swallow up a whale,
    I saw the sea brimful of ale,
    I saw a Venice glass full fifteen feet deep,
    I saw a well full of men's tears that weep,
    I saw red eyes all of a flaming fire,
    I saw a house bigger than the moon and higher,
    I saw the sun at twelve o'clock at night,
    I saw the man that saw this wondrous sight.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXX. Paradoxes.

        [The conclusion of the following resembles a verse in the nursery history of Mother Hubbard.]

    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;
    This tiresome old woman could never be quiet.

    She went to the baker, to buy her some bread,
    And when she came home her old husband was dead;
    She went to the clerk to toll the bell,
    And when she came back her old husband was well.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXIX. Paradoxes.

        [The following occurs in a MS. of the seventeenth century, in the Sloane Collection, the reference to which I have mislaid.]

    The man in the wilderness asked me,
    How many strawberries grew in the sea?
    I answered him, as I thought good,
    As many as red herrings grew in the wood.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXVII. Paradoxes.

    If all the world was apple-pie,
    And all the sea was ink,
    And all the trees were bread and cheese,
    What should we have for drink?

Unknown