The rainy season is on its way. I’ve already shown you some “rain” mother gooses at the past たどくらぶ. Here’s another one.
Doctor Foster went to Gloucester In a shower of rain; He stepped in a puddle, Right up to his middle, And never went there again.
“Gloucester” is pronounced as “gloster” and rhymes with “Foster.” It might be fun to make up your variations like this video:
Edward I of England (1239-1307) fell from his horse in a large puddle while he visited Gloucester. He was so ashamed by this experience that he never visited the city again. This story is suggested to be one of the origins.
Do you want to see the other rhymes which I showed you before?
Rain, rain, go away, Come again another day, Little Johnny wants to play, Rain, rain, go away.
It’s raining, it’s pouring, The old man’s snoring; He got into bed And bumped his head And couldn’t get up in the morning.
Rain on the green grass, And rain on the tree, Rain on the house-top, But not on me.
Hello, everyone. The rain is coming down every day. I miss the bright sunshine.
Yesterday when I sat in my room, I saw a spider trailing down from the ceiling. It didn’t scare me. Just a tiny spider. It gave me an idea of “mother goose of this month.”
Itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout; Down came the rain and washed the spider out; Out came the sun and dried up all the rain; And itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.
The first line “itsy bitsy” has many variations like “eency wency”, “ipsy wispy”, “teeny tiny”, “inky dinky” and so on.
This rhyme has a tune and moves.
Can you make a spider with your fingers? A little difficult? Try it again with this youtube video:
こんにちは、RuiRuiです。 8月のたどくらぶで紹介するマザーグースは Star light, star brightです。
Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight.
This rhyme is sung to various tunes. You can find many Youtube videos.
In Disney animated film “Pinocchio”, Geppetto recited this rhyme when he found a first star from his window. He wished Pinocchio might become a real boy.
***** And one more nursery rhyme for you today. “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” One of the best-known English nursery rhymes in Japan, I think. I'll show you the full version.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.
When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Then the traveller in the dark, Thanks you for your tiny spark, He could not see which way to go, If you did not twinkle so.
In the dark blue sky you keep, And often through my curtains peep, For you never shut your eye, Till the sun is in the sky.
As your bright and tiny spark, Lights the traveller in the dark, Though I know not what you are, Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
This was written by a British poet, Jane Taylor. It appeared in "Rhymes for the Nursery", which Jane and her sister published in 1806.