Apr 18 2009
Silly Rhymes
It’s been a while since I gave you a writing exercise… and I’m sure it’s been a while since you’ve played with anything (work, work, work–is that all there is?). So here goes:
This one comes from a game my sister and I played as children, taking nursery rhymes and making entirely new (short) poems out of them. Here are some examples, with the original listed first, and our new version listed next. Now, remember, we were in elementary school when we wrote these, but I’m still surprised by what we came up with:
Original version:
Jack be nimble
Jack be quick
Jack jump over the candlestick
Our version:
Jack be clumsy
Jack be slow
Jack trip over his own big toe.
The rhythm is the same… even the subject is similar, yet the poem has a completely different meaning (I think it’s more meaningful than the original).
Here’s another original, though not really a nursery rhyme:
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair
Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy, was he?
Our version:
Fatty Watty was a toad
Fatty Watty got smashed on the road
Fatty Watty wasn’t fat after that. He was flat.
This time we played more with the concept, modifying the meter to suit what we wanted to say.
So, what versions might you come up with? You can probably remember some of your own silly kids’ rhymes, but in case you can’t, here are some examples to toy with. Feel free to choose one of these or one you remember, but in your posting, put the original in if it’s not one of these. Or let us try to guess what the original was… that would be cool, too.
Some to try:
Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn
The sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn
Where is the boy who looks after the sheep?
He’s under the haystack, fast asleep.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.
London Bridge is falling down
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.
Three blind mice.
See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer’s wife
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife
Have you ever seen such a thing in your life
As three blind mice?
If you don’t like these, try something else. But keep it short, concise, and brainless… and have fun!
Do, flit… please… and I’m sorry you are so overwhelmed by all you do. It’s too bad you can’t play more often.
How about this one:
Fluffy, fluffy little cat
How I wonder where you’re at
Windowsill or cupboard shelf
You seem comfy with yourself.
That took a whole ten seconds to think up. I wish I had time for more!!!
I promise to write in another one every single time someone comments on this blog… so don’t just visit, write something. Then I’ll have to come back and write another silly poem.
Okay, I am not a poet, but I managed to write a silly rhyme about potty training little boys. This one is for Jack and Alex…….
Tinkle, tinkle little boy,
how I wonder where you’ll aim,
arcing pee all o’er the seat,
where it lands on my feet,
droplets, droplets everywhere,
thanks goodness none landed in my hair.