Nursery Rhyme. XLIV. Literal

    A for the ape, that we saw at the fair;
    B for a blockhead, who ne'er shall go there;
    C for a collyflower, white as a curd;
    D for a duck, a very good bird;
    E for an egg, good in pudding or pies;
    F for a farmer, rich, honest, and wise;
    G for a gentleman, void of all care;
    H for the hound, that ran down the hare;
    I for an Indian, sooty and dark;
    K for the keeper, that look'd to the park;
    L for a lark, that soar'd in the air;
    M for a mole, that ne'er could get there;
    N for Sir Nobody, ever in fault;
    O for an otter, that ne'er could be caught;
    P for a pudding, stuck full of plums;
    Q was for quartering it, see here he comes;
    R for a rook, that croak'd in the trees;
    S for a sailor, that plough'd the deep seas;
    T for a top, that doth prettily spin;
    V for a virgin of delicate mien;
    W for wealth, in gold, silver, and pence;
    X for old Xenophon, noted for sense;
    Y for a yew, which for ever is green;
    Z for the zebra, that belongs to the queen.

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

Epitaphs

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DCXI. Relics.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCXCVIII. Games.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Diet

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. XLII. Literal

        [Tom Thumb's Alphabet.]

    A was an archer, and shot at a frog,
    B was a butcher, and had a great dog.
    C was a captain, all covered with lace,
    D was a drunkard, and had a red face.
    E was an esquire, with pride on his brow,
    F was a farmer, and followed the plough.
    G was a gamester, who had but ill luck,
    H was a hunter and hunted a buck.
    I was an innkeeper, who lov'd to bouse,
    J was a joiner, and built up a house.
    K was King William, once governed this land,
    L was a lady, who had a white hand.
    M was a miser, and hoarded up gold,
    N was a nobleman, gallant and bold.
    O was an oyster wench, and went about town,
    P was a parson, and wore a black gown.
    Q was a queen, who was fond of good...

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. XXXVI. Literal

    A, B, C, and D,
    Pray, playmates, agree,
    E, F, and G,
    Well so it shall be.
    J, K, and L,
    In peace we will dwell
    M, N, and O,
    To play let us go.
    P, Q, R, and S,
    Love may we possess,
    W, X, and Y,
    Will not quarrel or die.
    Z, and amperse-and,
    Go to school at command.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCXC. Games.

    There were three jovial Welshmen,
        As I have heard them say,
    And they would go a-hunting
        Upon St. David's day.

    All the day they hunted,
        And nothing could they find
    But a ship a-sailing,
        A-sailing with the wind.

    One said it was a ship,
        The other he said, nay;
    The third said it was a house,
        With the chimney blown away.

    And all the night they hunted,
        And nothing could they find
    But the moon a-gliding,
        A-gliding with the wind.

    One said it was the moon,
        The other he said, nay;
    The third said it was a cheese,
        And half o't cut away.

    And all the day they hunted,
        And nothing could they ...

Unknown

The Absurd ABC

A for the APPLE
or Alphabet pie,
Which all get a slice of.
Come taste it & try.

B is the BABY
who gave Mr Bunting
Full many a long day's
rabbit skin hunting.

C for the CAT
that played on the fiddle,
When cows jumped higher than
'Heigh Diddle Diddle!'

D for the DAME
with her pig at the stile,
'Tis said they got over,
but not yet a while.


E for the Englishman,
ready to make fast
The giant who wanted to
have him for breakfast.

F for the Frog in the story
you know,
Begun with a wooing but
ending in woe.

G for Goosey Gander
who wandered upstairs,
And met the old man
who objected to prayers.


H for poor Humpty who
after his fall,
Felt oblige...

Walter Crane

Nursery Rhyme. XXXII. Literal

        [Finis.]

    F for fig, J for jig,
        And N for knuckle bones,
    I for John the waterman,
        And S for sack of stones.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXXV. Games.

    One old Oxford ox opening oysters;
    Two tee-totums totally tired of trying to trot to Tadbury;
    Three tall tigers tippling tenpenny tea;
    Four fat friars fanning fainting flies;
    Five frippy Frenchmen foolishly fishing for flies;
    Six sportsmen shooting snipes;
    Seven Severn salmons swallowing shrimps;
    Eight Englishmen eagerly examining Europe;
    Nine nimble noblemen nibbling nonpareils;
    Ten tinkers tinkling upon ten tin tinderboxes with ten tenpenny tacks;
    Eleven elephants elegantly equipt;
    Twelve typographical topographers typically translating types.

Unknown