"Wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?"
@allknowing (153529)
India
April 17, 2023 9:24pm CST
Most here must have grown up reciting that nursery rhyme "Sing a song of sixpence" where four and twenty black birds are baked in a pie. And that was the dainty dish that was set before the king.
This is not the only nursery rhyme with an element of cruelty Pick any and you will find cruelty.
And yet they are being taught to kids for centuries.
Nurseries to have such cruel stories sure shows there was sadism in those poets.
What say?
Image credit:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Four_and_Twenty_Blackbirds.png
6 people like this
6 responses
@Laurakemunto (13787)
• Kenya
18 Apr 23
Yes we sang rhymes that today I usually find the meaning and Wonder oh, wow, but we just sang
4 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
18 Apr 23
When you find the meaning there is nothing but cruelty in all nursery rhymes
3 people like this
@Laurakemunto (13787)
• Kenya
18 Apr 23
@allknowing many a times yes, then I ask myself, to the young kids??
3 people like this
@Fleura (35063)
• United Kingdom
18 Apr 23
As you say many of the old rhymes are about cruel things - about real life in fact.
'Baa baa black sheep' about taxation as @JimBo452020 says
'Ring a ring a roses' about the plague
'Seesaw Marjorie Daw' about someone who is a bit slow - disabled maybe?
'Old mother Hubbard' about an old woman who can't afford any food
'Ding dong bell' about someone trying to drown a cat
The one I always hated most was 'I had a little pony'
3 people like this
@Fleura (35063)
• United Kingdom
18 Apr 23
@allknowing I read them and sang them as a child, but my girls don't seem to in the same way.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
18 Apr 23
I remember this very well. Some of these rhymes would not be acceptable today.
2 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
18 Apr 23
Most rhymes have it and yet they continue to be taught to kids
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
22 Apr 23
I remember singing that to my kids, but never really thought much about the lyrics!
2 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
22 Apr 23
Neither did I - felt happy falling down singing the ring a ring a roses (lol) but now it has started sinking in
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238325)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 23
@allknowing It was about Covid! And Nostradamus wrote it!
2 people like this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
22 Apr 23
@TheHorse I hope one day it will dawn on whoever has the power to change them
@TheHorse (238325)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Apr 23
@allknowing That's why God made Republicans. Actually, I have no clue.
1 person likes this
