Nursery crimes.

There is something crudely wrong with the definition of a lullaby by the entire human species. It is meant to soothe the mind and relax the senses of the baby. Its supposed to put him to sleep and transport him to a world of sweet dreams and fairies. But look what we have been singing to generations of babies . Shocking !

Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall
And down will come baby, cradle and all

And did you imagine a rudely awakened baby and a mother trying to reach out to a falling cradle. How unpredictable and cruel can one make life through this seemingly ‘Sweet lullaby’! Imagine people-mother, baby, wind blowing quietly, tender love in the air, lullaby tune and the harsh act of baby falling off the cradle.

Three blind mice, three blind mice,
See how they run, see how they run,
They all ran after the farmer's wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a thing in your life,
As three blind mice?

My god! A carving knife.  A curious child will first ask his mom about a carving knife that cut the tails of the mice .Probably preparing to own one. It certainly sounds like a heroic weapon to hold and cut.  Can life get more violent! ‘Blind’ mice that too!

Here’s a total blower.

Ladybug ladybug fly away home,
Your house in on fire and your children are gone,
All except one and that's little Ann,
For she crept under the frying pan.

‘House is on fire’ and ‘children’ all gone is a sure washout scene. So the moral: Creep under the frying pan. What a disaster of a poem that sends shudders down my spine. The fear of the unknown has been seeded with all evil intent!

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe,
She had so many children she didn't know what to do!
So she gave them some broth without any bread,
And she whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed!

What a virago is she! She whipped them all soundly. And I wonder how soundly will the whip be when its on those tender skin. People,  the world of nursery rhymes holds so many more such spine chilling and absolutely cold blooded murderous thoughts.

The other day after a really long long time I sat watching Tom and Jerry and as always was amused by all the slapstick humour it portrays. Jerry ties a dynamite to Tom’s tail, makes a swirl with it for the clamp, lights the ends of the deadly dynamite, gives the world a devilish grin and shoots him up skywards to the moon! Phew! What on world are we teaching. Fine, a cat has nine lives alright, but this is still too shocking!

I have the most adorable babies on my floor where I live and forever I hear these nursery rhymes played and sometimes I hear the babbling of the babies who are trying to sing along too. While I press for the lift and wait, I often hope to myself that these little innocent minds should never be old enough to understand these lines they sing! God! Are you listening!