Mythology & Folklore

There was an old woman, and what do you think?

by Anonymous (English nursery rhymes) traditional; recorded 17th–19th century

From The Nursery Rhymes of England, collected by J. O. Halliwell (London: Warne; first ed. 1842; this printing 1886)

Mythology & Folklore

There was an old woman, and what do you think?
She lived upon nothing but victuals and drink:
Victuals and drink were the chief of her diet;
This tiresome old woman could never be quiet.

She went to the baker, to buy her some bread,
And when she came home her old husband was dead;
She went to the clerk to toll the bell,
And when she came back her old husband was well.

✦ ✦ ✦

Halliwell's class: Paradoxes. [The conclusion of the following resembles a verse in the nursery history of Mother Hubbard.]

MLA

Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “There was an old woman, and what do you think?” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/366/.

Chicago

Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “There was an old woman, and what do you think?” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/366/.

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