poet please

[supernana]

who wrote how many miles to babylon,
three score miles and ten. . .

[kempie]

Is it not a nursery rhyme found in the Mother Goose books?

http://kellscraft.com/mothergoose/mothergooseh .html#6113

[supernana]

thanks my Mum insists it was one of the classical poets and Google doesn't seem to know!

[Cetti]

Taken from another book of Nursery Rhymes - a slightly longer version.

How many miles to Babylon?
Three score and ten.
Can I get there by candlelight?
Aye, and back again.
If your feet are nimble and light,
You'll get there by candlelight.

[supernana]

thank you for that

[Tatty Rollox]

Your link, cetti, has -

"Oh that I were where I would be!
Then I would be where I am not:
But where I am, there I must be
And where I would be I cannot"

I am now all but immobile, and it is Harvest Festival tomorrow, but I cannot get a mile down to the Church. Thank heaven's it's my glass or two of scotch night!

[jno]

sorry to hear you're stuck, Tatty - just getting over the gout myself - but perhaps you need more Scotch nights? Anyway the Opies' book on nursery rhymes says it may have started out as a singing game but the game part has vanished and it is now just a children's rhyme.

[Cetti]

Does that mean the church will have one marrow less tomorrow Tatty? Do hope you feel better soon.
Gout, jno? That's a very regal complaint, but very painful I believe.

[Tatty Rollox]

...... it's me poor old feet wot's killing me (and the stairs !!). However, the weather is absolutely foul here today so not too sorry at missing the Harvest Festival.

[Cetti]

Poor Tatty, they do look a little webby.

I recommend a good chiropodist (for the talons) and do keep away from the river for a bit.