PLAGUEY RHYME
With reference to Joanne Wheatley's letter (Nursery World, 10 February), I am not convinced that the rich traditions of nursery rhymes are surviving. Recently, one of our very experienced room supervisors asked me to copy out the Ring a Ring o' Roses nursery rhyme from a beautifully illustrated book, but asked if I would include the second verse. I looked at her quizzically and she went on to recite, 'The ducks are in the water, having a drink of water, a-tishoo, a-tishoo, we all jump up'.
I asked her if she knew the origins of the verse. I pointed out in the illustration the black crow which symbolised the plague, the burning buildings, a reference to the Great Fire Of London and, finally, the 'ring of roses' - blotches on the skin of plague victims.
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