Monday 28 December 2009

Who Killed Cock-Robin?



I felt very, very sad when I discovered a dead robin in the undergrowth. There was, however, a certain beauty in its stillness and I was moved to take a post mortem photograph. Later, I remembered the old English folk song:

"Who killed Cock Robin?" "I," said the Sparrow,
"With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin."
"Who saw him die?" "I," said the Fly,
"With my little eye, I saw him die."
"Who caught his blood?" "I," said the Fish,
"With my little dish, I caught his blood."
"Who'll make the shroud?" "I," said the Beetle,
"With my thread and needle, I'll make the shroud."
"Who'll dig his grave?" "I," said the Owl,
"With my pick and shovel, I'll dig his grave."
"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's 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'll carry the link."
"Who'll be chief mourner?" "I," said the Dove,
"I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner."
"Who'll carry the coffin?" "I," said the Kite,
"If it's not through the night, I'll carry the coffin."
"Who'll bear the pall? "We," said the Wren,
"Both the cock and the hen, we'll bear the pall."
"Who'll sing a psalm?" "I," said the Thrush,
"As she sat on a bush, I'll sing a psalm."
"Who'll toll the bell?" "I," said the bull,
"Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell."
All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin.

7 comments:

  1. Ah poor little robin. I've found birds withotu life and they all rest in my garden in peace. Poignant photo.

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  2. Many old folk songs are a bit unsettling to me...

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  3. It seems wrong to say this is so very nice. But there is peace here in this post and peace is always nice.

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  4. If you have not read the White Goddess by Robert Graves yet. I would get hold of a copy, he links it to the welsh poem the Battle of the Trees and how it relates to ogham alphabet. This links to all calendar divination, which I think links to this Cock robin rhyme.

    Oddly, I was in the garden yesterday and saw a robin flitting around. Reminded me of the Secret Garden.

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  5. I have been busy worrying about Jack and Jill. Why did they go up the hill to fetch a pail of water? Water is usually down a hill. What were they really up to? And who really did kill Cock Robin?
    The above comment reminds me that I have been after a copy of the white goddess for a long time.

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  6. Beth, Terri and @Eloh,
    Always a worry that I might offend someone with such a photograph, but I think right under the circumstances. Glad you bury them, Beth.

    Nightwatchman,
    Thanks for the reference which is unfamiliar to me, but I shall certainly track it down!

    Jackie,
    Thank you. Coincidentally, the Jack and Jill Hill is about four miles away from here (as the crow flies)and is, I can confirm, very, very steep. A very nice plaque marks the spot. Next time I am feeling fit, I shall cycle over and photograph it for this blog.

    I have my own theory about what they were doing and how the accident happened. Perhaps Jack slipped on some brown paper that Jill had dropped on the way up?

    You asked a really good question - who did kill Cock Robin - what theories do others have?

    Best wishes
    Laurie

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