Did you catch the previous journal? It really was interesting [according to many who replied back] basically stating that all nursery rhymes we know and love, continue to pass on kids of the modern generation were sometimes hundreds of years ago. And the stories they tell have hidden meanings. A nice media to pass down on to new generations what happened in the past.

It left me with the question of why there were no modern nursery rhymes? Now there's a thought. Hollywood remakes movies and series all the time. Ocean's 11, Longest yard, Charlie's Angels, Mission Impossible...and the music industry recycles, remixes and samples classic tunes as a matter of standard practice. So I got to thinking about some suitable updates for nursery rhymes.

Old Humpty Dumpty is a good place to start. We all take it for granted that Humpty Dumpty was an egg- although I don't recall any fact ever being mentioned in the rhyme unless there was some extra verse I am not aware of. Actually, it's believed that the character in the rhyme was not a person but a type of cannon used in war. Anyway in the rhyme, the unfortunately named Mr Dumpty had his problems in life compounded by his parents' decision to call him Humpty rather than say Jeff - and for his own reason he chose to sit on a wall. Anyway - a modern-flavoured update could go something like this:

Homeboy HD went to the mall
But had no money
So could afford nothing at all
He went looking for things free
Constantly eye-balled by security.
He felt like an egg coz his mind was scrmbled
Thinking:"Why did i come here when my credit card is canceled!?"

I know it lacks the voilent ending of the original - bit i toned it down in case any sensitive readers are upset by the vision of spilled yolk!

What of the story of Georgie Porgie? The compulsive eater who chased girls.' He seemed like such a strange character but strangely not so unlike lots of nowadays. He was was at least very focused on his hobbies. The remix could be:

Georgie Porgie, pizza and coffee,
Burgers, chips and lots of toffee.
He wanted to chase girls, but was overweight and lazy.
So tucked into another plate of pie and gravy.
His taste in all things is X-X-L.
The only high in his life is cholesterol!

What I rather cleverly did is create a medical moral into this sorry tale - however the last two words aren't too rhyming. Depends on how you pronounce it anyways.

This is a challenge for all of you out there. Let's try to make up a whole new book of rhymes that capture the real essence of our life here - and knows in 10 years they may well be singing our rhymes in classrooms all over the region.

A special thanks to ~Calyptra who linked me to the Nursery Rhymes - Lyrics and Origins! page where you can read the rhymes and find out the story behind them. I wanted to know from long back how the nursery rhyme "London Bridge is Falling down" came into making. If you're still not satisfied Wikipedia also has quite a few in it's extensive database.

I'd also like all of you reading this to include *DarkestVirtue in your daily prayers. He's recovering from surgery nicely. But needs all the help he can get. [Hang in there buddy!]

Plus my mad friend =robinism has written an eye opening article on October - International Blindness Awareness Month which is HIGHLY informative. I suggest you dedicate 5 mins of your time there too. Thanks.

Until next Timers, Nursery rhymers. 'Ta!