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December 4, 2004
The Meadow
Each day when I walk Guido, I pass a certain place down the path. As I pass by this place, it reminds me of a poem that I heard and read as a child. I loved it then and still do. I think this was written by John Anthony Hartell. The poem was in a Better Homes and Gardens Story Book. It was given to my sister and me on October 18, 1978. The poem is:
Over in the Meadow
Over in the meadow in the sand and the sun,
Lived and old mother turtle and her little turtle one.
Dig said the mother, we dig said the one,
So they dug all day in the sand and the sun.
Over in the meadow where the stream runs blue,
Lived an old mother fish and her little fishes two.
Swim said the mother, we swim said the two,
So they swam all day where the stream runs blue.
Over in the meadow in a hole in a tree,
Lived an old mother owl and her little owls three.
Tu-whoo said the mother, Tu-whoo said the three,
So they tu-whooed all day in a hole in a tree.
Over in the meadow by the old barn door,
Lived an old mother rat and her little ratties four.
Gnaw said the mother, we gnaw said the four,
So they gnawed all day by the old barn door.
Over in the meadow in a snug beehive,
Lived an old mother bee and her little bees five.
Buzz said the mother, we buzz said the five,
So they buzzed all day in a snug beehive.
Over in the meadow in a nest built of sticks,
Lived an old mother crow and her little crows six.
Caw said the mother, we caw said the six,
So they cawed all day in a nest built of sticks.
Over in the meadow where the grass grows so even,
Lived an old mother frog and her little froggies seven.
Jump said the mother, we jump said the seven,
So they jumped all day where the grass grows so even.
Over in the meadow by the old mossy gate,
Lived an old mother lizard and her little lizards eight.
Bask said the mother, we bask said the eight,
So they basked all day by the old mossy gate.
Over in the meadow by the old scotch pine,
Lived an old mother duck and her little ducks nine.
Quack said the mother, we quack said the nine,
So they quacked all day by the old scotch pine.
Over in the meadow in a cozy wee den,
Lived an old mother beaver and her little beavers ten.
Beave said the mother, we beave said the ten,
So they beaved all day in a cozy wee den.
Posted by tami at December 4, 2004 1:23 PM
Comments
I love that poem! I've never read it before, but I can hear a tune in there. I wonder if it's ever been put to music, because it's a natural for it.
Posted by: gw at December 7, 2004 3:53 AM
I've been doing a little research on that poem and find that it is (or at least was) a popular children's song. So far, I've only found that it is an Appalacian counting rhyme, and seen several children's books which illustrate it. It is credited at most sites as being penned by Olive A. Wadsworth. Wonderful little poem! :)
Posted by: gw at December 7, 2004 3:43 PM
Oh I'm so glad that someone else loves it as much as I do! Thanks for the info about it too :)
Posted by: Tami at December 7, 2004 4:51 PM
I have the 1978 book I recieved it as a gift for my son who was born that July 5/78. I am presently using it to teach my preschoolers in the daycare where i work. Its one of my favourites ,it has actions to do with the children using their fingers to count,then dig,swim etc,and imitate the animal sounds.I also like the variations of animals.But always start with the original version.
Posted by: ruth settle at March 1, 2006 4:48 PM