I have a natural bent of mind that struggles to remain positive. My most sincere attempts to look at a half-filled glass of water as half-full, have lasted a maximum of 2 days (because I got really thirsty and I couldn't drink imaginary water). I sat down to do a reasonable analysis today, and logically deduced that my kidergarten teachers are to blame for my condition.
Ding Dong Bell, Pussy's in the Well
Who put her in? Little Johnny Thin
Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Stout
What a naughty boy was that to drown poor pussycat?
Wonder if the pussycat came out dead or alive? How appetising!
Solomon Grundy,
Born on Monday, Christened on Tuesday, Married on Wednesday,
Took ill on Thursday, Worse on Friday, Died on Saturday, Buried on Sunday,
And that was the end of Solomon Grundy.
He lived for exactly a week. Nooraayusu!!And of course, we have the case of Jack and Jill tumbling down the mountain, miserably failing to accomplish the simple task of fetching water; Humpty Dumpty, whom the entire Royal Army and Cavalry could not rescue; London Bridge that crashed down; besides others.
I dedicate this post to the memory of a dear friend, who passed away last night under very unfortunate circumstances. She was 21, and was extremely fond of cartoons and nursery rhymes. I will not cry for you, dear one; I will NOT make death triumphant by my tears...
Ring a ring o' roses, Pocket full of posies
Hussh-ah Bussh-ah... We all fall down!
27 comments:
Sorry about your friend.
Shakespeare used the phrase "Ding Dong Bell" is quite a few of his plays - The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice and Ring around the Rosy was about the Bubonic Plague in England. I wonder what Solomon Grundy was about...hmm!
I am sorry about your friend.
Hey 21 year old vinesh's friend.. I aint gonna comment abt u and I will NOT make death triumphant by my "Sorries".
Vinesh... my condolences for your loss.
by the way.. "huss-ah bussh-ah" is ashes ashes we all fall down :)... take care
That message wasn't meant to dampen anybody's mood. In fact, I like to joke about death because when you start feeling bad about it, it becomes really heavy on your heart and gets you down..Have had enough people dying around me *hmm*
@Merino: Is it ashes ashes? We always sang it Hush-ah Bush-ah LOLZ
:-D
Someone also told me it is Little Johny Green in the Ding Dong Bell rhyme..
Hey Vinesh -that only reminds me of the fact that Death is the only certain thing in life.
Sorry to hear about your friend..and also..
Sorry to hear all these rhymes.! Brought back a ton of memories.!
am sure that ur friend wud have started her/his new life ( in next birth) and am also pretty damn sure that she's gonna be living her/his life longer by opting not 2 listen 2 wat the kindergaten teachers' say..:)
Vinesh, I loved your line "I will NOT make death triumphant by my tears". If only, we could have that kind of 'pakkuvam' (an English word substitute couldn't have been better) to practice these words.
Adding to the nursery rhymes, now most people have started realising that these rhymes are not applicable to India (they are all of British origin). Best would be "Rain rain go away" rhyme - adding to already rain/water starved Chennaite's frustration. Infact many establishments (one I can think of right away is "Karadi tales") now have been promoting our traditional folk rhymes - very native to India.
I read somewhere that the "Ring a roses" rhyme was to symbolise the plague (or was it flu?) epidemic which broke out in Europe long time back.
Ooops, Manjusha, sorry, did not read your post (about ring-a-roses) before posting mine. Sorry for the repetition.
but i cant hold back my sadness.....and i will let that be
Death is for every body, but we don’t know when it will come, be happy till it reach us. I pray for your friend athma shanthi.
"I will NOT make death triumphant by my tears..." - liked that.
Sorry for u for losing ur friend.
@Vasanthi: You are right Vasanthi, but wonder why it's done at an early age! Maybe to tell us there will be early deaths like my friend's :-|
@Narayanan Venkitu: Now when we look back at the rhymes of those times... feels different, right? :-)
@Krishna: That was an interesting thought buddy :-) I know it's not in my control, but I wish she has no rebirth.
@Grey Vampire: Not that I'm holding back my tears buddy (though when I said I won't make death triumphant by my tears...I implied that) but neraya azhudhu sometimes kanneer vathi pogum theriyuma? :-)
@Ravi: Pleasant surprise when you mentioned the word "pakkuvam". I have often felt we Indians are very melodramatic with our emotions. Not saying it is wrong, but I relate more with the way Westerners express their grief.
I haven't listened to Karadi Tales, but I do wish they become popular. I agree that our children should be taught topical rhymes.
@Monu: It is always best to let our heart lead us when it comes to emotions Monu.. so you ARE doing the right thing.
@Jeevan: True, buddy!
Thanks you all for your condolences. If applicable, may her soul rest in peace.
Gosh, it's been so long ago since the time nursery rhymes and stuff were our pop music!
yes, death is the most terrible thing one can ever face.
@Sayesha: Reminded of the good ol' times, eh? :-)
@Maha: Correction di. The terrible thing is watch a dear one die. Sethavangalukku enna kashtam...nimmadhiya poittaanga...
Vinesh,
we sang it husha busha also.. but the original one is ashes ashes...
cuz the song was about the plague way back then.. the ring o'roses was the rashy thingie and it looked icky, and the posies were carried aroudn to smell nice... and ashes ashes is of course people died off.. and all fall down.
the song got ruined for me.. everytime someone or i sing this, i think of lil kids going in circles with their limps falling off.. ack
@Merino:
Dignified response: Oh my God! That's terrible.
Natural response: Ewwwwwww
:-(
I will NOT make death triumphant by my tears...
What do I say? Neat.
Looking back now,I realize the rhyme psychology was for a reason...
Imagine having to memorize and recite the below lines during kindergarden !
But as the riper should by time decease,
His tender heir might bear his memory:
But thou, contracted to thine own bright eyes,
Feed'st thy light'st flame with self-substantial fuel,
Sorry to hear abt your friend. Y cry when you can stay happy with the memories? And which friend would wanna see a crybaby in you?
Abt the rhymes, wonder y most of them aint positive? Never thought abt it in that age and i should thank you for makin me think abt it now.
@Somu: I agree the existing rhymes are simple, but wonder why they have tragic endings :-)
@Magic Lens: You are right buddy, which friend would want to see a crybaby in us? :-|
hey vinesh...amazed at u mannn...brave of ya...never looked at de ring a roases rhyme this way before...thankz!
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