Mother Goose as Mother Nature

Part 2: Reverse versification

In the Middle Ages, wandering troubadours and bards used to practice a poetic form that would take an argument and resolve it by presenting an opposite verse. Whatever the first versifier said was quickly trumped and given an opposite meaning. In the first example, a flea and a nit want to get married but there are many obstacles that must be resolved. In the second example, a dead robin must be laid to rest by all his feathered friends. In the third verse, Mr. Coffee and Mr. Atole argue about who has more worth, the rich or the poor:

“The flea and the nit were going to be wed, but they couldn’t marry for they had no bread. From out in the barnyard, the cow up and said: ‘We shall hold the wedding, for I’ll make the bread.’ We’ve bread for the wedding, but whither to look, for someone with talent who’ll come be our cook. The ladybug answered from her little nook, ‘We shall hold the wedding, for I’ll be the cook.’ A cook for the wedding is such a nice treat. Now someone must hasten, to be there to eat. From his cozy mud pen, the pig said so sweet: ‘Fear not for the wedding; I’ll go there to eat.’ We’ve someone who’ll eat on our wedding day. Now find a musician who’ll be there to play. We’ve found a musician, but we must now bring someone to the wedding, who’ll be there to sing. The frog from her green pad croaked forth with a ring: ‘We shall hold the wedding; I’ll be there to sing.’ We’ve someone who’s singing, now if by some chance, we could find somebody who’ll go there to dance. The spider now started on her web to prance: ‘We shall hold the wedding; I’ll be there to dance.’ We’ve someone who’s dancing, but if we now can, we need to find someone, who’ll be the best man. From out of his dark hole the little mouse ran. ‘We shall hold the wedding; I’ll be the best man.’ They drank and they toasted with wine in the house, but cats crashed the party and ate up the mouse. Just as dawn was breaking, and both of them matched, there wasn’t a monkey that was left unscratched. (That’s the end of reverse versification number 1).

In this next verse, the birds plan a funeral for the robin:

“Who killed cock robin? ‘I, said the sparrow, with my bow and my arrow, I killed cock robin.’ Who saw him die? ‘I, said the magpie, with my little eye, I saw him die.’ Who caught his blood? ‘I, said the duck. It was just my sad luck. I caught his blood.’ Who’ll be the parson? ‘I,’ said the rook, ‘with my little book, I’ll be the parson.’ Who’ll be the clerk? I said the lark, if it not in the dark, I’ll be the clerk. Who’ll carry the link? ‘I,’ said the linnet, ‘I’ll fetch it in a minute. I carry the link. Who’ll be chief mourner? ‘I,’ said the dove, ‘I’ll mourn for my love. I’ll be chief mourner.’ Who’ll toll the bell? ‘I,’ said the bullfinch. ‘I can pull by the inch. I’ll toll the bell.’ Who’ll dig his grave? ‘I,’ said the owl, ‘with my spade and my trowel, I’ll dig his grave.’ Who’ll lead the way? ‘I,’ said the martin, ‘When ready for startin’, I’ll lead the way.’ All the birds of the air fell to sighin’ and sobbin’, when they heard the bell toll for poor cock robin. (End reverse versification number 2).

Now Mr. Coffee must argue with Mr. Corn Gruel:

Sir Coffee: “My dear friend Atole, well, how do you do? I’ve come from my country to argue with you.”Mr. Atole: “I’m fine, but please tell me, since you are well met, your name and your lineage, since I soon forget.”Mr. Coffee: “In every known country, Sir Coffee’s my name. In each of the great stores, resounds my rich fame. America wants me, ‘tis verily clear, I’ve come from my country to conquer you here.”Mr. Atole: “In truth, I’m Atole, and thank God for all. But heed this fair warning, since you stand so tall: Sometimes from the saddle the mighty do fall.”