Nursery Rhyme. CCLXXXII. Games.

        [One child holds a wand to the face of another, repeating these lines, and making grimaces, to cause the latter to laugh, and so to the others; those who laugh paying a forfeit.]

    Buff says Buff to all his men,
    And I say Buff to you again;
    Buff neither laughs nor smiles,
    But carries his face
    With a very good grace,
    And passes the stick to the very next place!

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. CCCCLXXV. Love And Matrimony.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

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

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCLXI. Gaffers And Gammers.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. LIV. Tales.

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. 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. CCCXXXIV. Games.

        [A game on the slate.]

    Eggs, butter, bread,
    Stick, stock, stone dead!
    Stick him up, stick him down,
    Stick him in the old man's crown!

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXXXVIII. Games.

        [A play with the face. The child exclaims:]

    Ring the bell!            giving a lock of its hair a pull.
    Knock at the door!    tapping its forehead.
    Draw the latch!            pulling up its nose.
    And walk in!                opening its mouth and putting in its finger.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXVI. Games.

        [Another game, played exclusively by boys. Two, who are fixed upon for the purpose, leave the group, and privately arrange that the pass-word shall be some implement of a particular trade. The trade is announced in the dialogue, and then the    fun is, that the unfortunate wight who guesses the "tool" is    beaten with the caps of his fellows till he reaches a fixed goal, after which he goes out in turn.]

    "Two broken tradesmen,
        Newly come over,
    The one from France and Scotland,
        The other from Dover."
    "What's your trade?"

        [Carpenters, nailors, smiths, tinkers, or any other is answered, and on guessing the instrument "plane him, hammer him, rasp him, or solder him," is called out respectively during the period of punishment.]

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. 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