There are some things
we should never teach our children,
like the reason
you have to take off your shoes
in the airport,
or why there are clouds
named after mushrooms.
And some things
should be gentle lessons
that Waggins the Labrador
didn’t actually run away to the dog circus
and that grandpa Joe
won’t be fishing any more
on those old slow June afternoons.
It’s like the nursery rhyme
about the black plague –
Mother Goose has a strange sense of humor,
giving little girls
flowers and ashes at once,
and we should never let our children
sing in rosie circles,
though the glasses they look through
should only be pale rose.
They need to know
what death’s name is
to understand the world,
but they don’t need to recognize
that they can die, too –
innocence’s end will come soon enough
because, in the end,
we really do all fall down.
Author notes
I chose the title option: "Ring Around the Rosie"
It's almost a philosophy instead of a poem...*laughs*
A contest entry
- A Muse's Playground by Randomly Beautiful.
300 points, ended April 20, 2008, 7 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Speak your mind.
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Nice
Interesting. What an unusual subject to place in the context of a poem. It seems to work. Good luck to you in the contest. ~Peace~Gar -
Sensitive and insightful play on rhymes
This poem is not child's play though it plays liberally with nursery rhymes and the real meanings and context. It's thoughtful and kind in it admonishment perhaps because we are still all children guarding a last threads of innocence.
Tecohe
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I felt the same way when I was school and learned the meaning of "ring around the Rosie". It always plays slow motion in a creepy voice in my head now. Most people these days teach their children things blindly and you make a strong point about that in this poem. Excellent job.
"though the glasses they look through
should only be pale rose."
was a little shaky but other than that pure excellence.
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Of course, you found the same line I wasn't happy with.
I guess that just means I should trust my instincts, right? Thanks for commenting - glad you liked it! 
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I liked the philosophical tone of this poem and the closing lines reminded me of when my son was still in pre-primary school; one of his class mates suffered and epileptic fit and some of the mothers were extremely upset that their children had to witness it. I thought it was a "good" experience for my child to see life as it is - even the non-beautiful and then learn from it.
Death is part of life and yes, "in the end, we do all fall down". A very interesting take on the old nursery rhyme!
~ Nicolette
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Thank you!
I have to admit, when I learned the real meaning behind the little rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie" in junior high, I was appalled that we teach our children to sing it on the playgrounds - it's one of the creepiest things, I think! Thank you for your comments, and I'm glad you liked it!
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