My darling, if you could,
The cellar's not too far,
Go down and bring some wine for me,
The good child that you are.
But Granny, is it safe?
S'it safe to crawl down there?
My darling, down there underneath,
You couldn't lose a hair.
The cellar's safe indeed,
You couldn't find a rat.
Then I can go down without fear?
Child, I didn't say that.
The cellar's fine, it's true,
But just behind the door,
You'll find five creaky stairs therein,
That lead onto the floor.
Now listen closely, dear,
Remembering it all,
For once you take your first step, you
must pay each stair it's toll.
Use one foot for each stair,
You must never use two,
for if you get it wrong, then they
will take something from you.
Upon the first old stair,
Just sing a little song,
To lull the thing there deep asleep,
to find your way along.
The second stair comes next,
Raise up your little toe,
For if it touches, by it you
can be dragged down below.
The third stair you must stomp,
And keep your foot down tight,
So nothing underneath the stile
can spring on out and bite.
The fourth stair sits above,
above the sleeper's heart,
tread lightly, for a single creak,
is cause for it to start.
The fifth and final stair,
is shaky, nails and all,
keep balance for if it gives way,
you'll have a while to fall.
The cellar should be safe,
so take three flasks, or four,
then quickly, quickly, up the stairs
and faster, slam the door.
YOU ARE READING
Never told Nursery Rhymes
PoetryAre these the sort of things you like, my dear? the stories and the rhymes that make you shake? are you the sort who seeks darkness and fear? I surely hope you are, for your own sake. In here you'll meet the fear who has a face, in here you'll feel...
