Nursery Rhyme. CCCXLV. Games.

    Here we come a piping,
    First in spring, and then in May;
    The queen she sits upon the sand,
    Fair as a lily, white as a wand:
    King John has sent you letters three,
    And begs you'll read them unto me. -
    We can't read one without them all,
    So pray, Miss Bridget, deliver the ball!

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. CCLIII. Gaffers And Gammers.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DII. Natural History.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DXXI. Natural History.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCCLXXVII. Paradoxes.

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. CCLXXXIX. Games.

    Queen Anne, queen Anne, you sit in the sun,
    As fair as a lily, as white as a wand.
    I send you three letters, and pray read one,
    You must read one, if you can't read all,
    So pray, Miss or Master, throw up the ball.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXLIII. Games.

        [The two following are fragments of a game called "The Lady of the Land," a complete version of which has not fallen in my way.]

    Here comes a poor woman from baby-land,
    With three small children in her hand:
    One can brew, the other can bake,
    The other can make a pretty round cake.
    One can sit in the garden and spin,
    Another can make a fine bed for the king;
    Pray ma'am will you take one in?

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCLXXXVII. Games.

        [A string of children, hand in hand, stand in a row. A child (A) stands in front of them, as leader; two other children (B and C) form an arch, each holding both the hands of the other.]

    A.    Draw a pail of water,
            For my lady's daughter;
            My father's a king, and my mother's a queen,
            My two little sisters are dress'd in green,
            Stamping grass and parsley,
            Marigold leaves and daisies.
    B.    One rush, two rush,
            Pray thee, fine lady, come under my bush.

        [A passes by under the arch, followed by the whole string of children, the last of whom is taken captive by B and C. The verses are repeated, until all are taken.]

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXLVIII. Games.

        [A game-rhyme.]

    Trip and go, heave and hoe,
    Up and down, to and fro;
    From the town to the grove
    Two and two let us rove,
    A-maying, a-playing;
    Love hath no gainsaying;
    So merrily trip and go,
    So merrily trip and go!

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCLXXVII. Games.

        [Rhymes used by children to decide who is to begin a game.]

    One-ery, two-ery,
        Ziccary zan;
    Hollow bone, crack a bone,
        Ninery, ten:
    Spittery spot,
        It must be done;
    Twiddleum twaddleum,
        Twenty-one.

    Hink spink, the puddings stink,
        The fat begins to fry,
    Nobody at home, but jumping Joan,
        Father, mother, and I.
    Stick, stock, stone dead,
        Blind man can't see,
    Every knave will have a slave,
        You or I must be he.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXV. Games.

        [A number of boys and girls stand round one in the middle, who repeats the following lines, counting the children until one is counted out by the end of the verses.]

    Ring me (1), ring me (2), ring me rary (3),
    As I go round (4), ring by ring (5),
    A virgin (6) goes a maying (7),
    Here's a flower (8), and there's a flower (9),
    Growing in my lady's garden (10),
    If you set your foot awry (11),
    Gentle John will make you cry (12),
    If you set your foot amiss (13),
    Gentle John (14) will give you a kiss.

        [The child upon whom (14) falls is then taken out, and forced to select one of the other sex. The middle child then proceeds.]

    This [lady or gentleman] is none of ours,
    Has put [him or her] self in [the selected ...

Unknown