Mythology & Folklore

When I was a little girl, about seven years old

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

When I was a little girl, about seven years old,
I hadn't got a petticoat, to cover me from the cold;
So I went into Darlington, that pretty little town,
And there I bought a petticoat, a cloak, and a gown.
I went into the woods and built me a kirk,
And all the birds of the air, they helped me to work;
The hawk with his long claws pulled down the stone,
The dove, with her rough bill, brought me them home;
The parrot was the clergyman, the peacock was the clerk,
The bullfinch play'd the organ, and we made merry work.

✦ ✦ ✦

Halliwell's class: Tales.

MLA

Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “When I was a little girl, about seven years old.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/70/.

Chicago

Anonymous (English nursery rhymes). “When I was a little girl, about seven years old.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-nursery-rhymes/70/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Anonymous (English nursery rhymes)