Who killed Cock Robin?

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.

"Cock Robin"' is a traditional nursery rhyme. Often, these rhymes had hidden meanings. When one could not comment on the political situation of a day, thoughts could be expressed in a rhyme such as this. Over the years, as we no longer make the connection between the rhyme and the event, they have simply become nursery rhymes.

Link: A torch formerly used for lighting one's way in the streets.
Linnet: Old World Finch
Pall: A cover for a coffin, bier, or tomb, often made of black, purple, or white velvet.

Midi: Cock Robin

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