The Magpie Rhyme
One for sorrow
There is only one
in lonely and alone -
and unshared sorrow is
the worst sorrow known.
When there’s no one -
except you - to care
you struggle with a burden
that’s too hard to bear.
But what can you do
to make the sadness go away,
when it just gets worse
day after day after day?
Two for joy
The best number of all
can only be two
because it’s made up
of me and of you.
We can go anywhere
or do anything
and nothing can match
the joy that you bring.
What do we know
of darkness and despair
when our lives are ruled
by the love that we share?
Three for a girl
Every mother hopes
for a pretty little girl,
with pink clothes to wear
and long hair to curl.
Who’ll share her trials
and her every tribulation -
and of course that lovely
mother-daughter relation.
Who’ll break her mother’s heart,
to make it whole again
by matching a perfect joy
to every little pain.
Four for a boy
A boy’s life is busy
with all kinds of things to do;
often sports and games,
but many others too.
Finding much in common
with their dear detested dad,
it can be much easier
just being a lad.
But they still have problems,
that cause them lots of strife,
and they certainly can’t complain
that they live an easy life!
Five for silver
They say that silver
is what new friends are.
For without making new friends,
you surely won’t get far.
They help you to get
to where you are going
and they often treat you better
than friends more all-knowing.
Silver is a treasure
as new friends can be
so I’m just wondering –
will you be friends with me?
Six for gold
But they also say
that lifelong friends are gold -
and you are very stupid,
if you needed to be told.
For they’re the ones that helped you
through the thick and thin
and have still stuck around
despite the state you’re in.
Rather like gold,
friends this good are few
and so must be treasured
even more than the new.
Seven for a secret never to be told
I’ll tell you a secret -
if you promise not to reveal
a word of what I’ve promised
that I’ll always conceal.
Listen closely, friend,
let me whisper in your ear -
and I’ll tell you exactly
what you want to hear.
A secret isn’t a secret
until someone else knows it too
but then it isn’t secret –
like the one that I’ve told you.
