Metilthian Working Caste Skipping Rhyme
There is no soothing balm like the honesty of a child. Nor is there any sharper blade.
I am pleased to say that I have arrived safely in Central Tilth and my hosts at the workshop here are quite the pair! But, of course, you know that already, and so I shall settle for thanking you for introducing me, and for whatever in your letter of introduction so thoroughly amused them upon its presentation.
I promise that I will write more about my journey here and everything else I know you'll be curious about when I'm better rested. For now, though, I had to write to you right away about the most wonderful and disturbing children's rhyme going around among the youngers of the Metilth Working Caste.
Summary
In the alleys dark with dust,
Darkened moon as dragons fly,
Victor says with hungry grin
Historical Basis
I've spoken to my hosts, and to a few people introduced by them as friends to the cause, and asked them about the rhyme. They tell me that as near as they can tell, children in the working caste have been skipping rope, passing balls, and playing slap-clap games to the rhyme for at least three generations now.
Perhaps most thrilling to my research so far, is that everyone knows the rhyme, but that the moment children begin working in the foundries they no longer have much in the way of free time, and they never play those games again. But every single one of them remembers the words to the rhyme.
Perhaps that is why it is so easy to recruit for the cause?
Overall, I do not think that this rhyme is your very best work, but it is certainly among your most effective! Congratulations, and well done.
Though it doesn't fit the beat perfectly, I set the music (no lyrics or singing) to 'Come out you black and tans' and let those verses bounce around, and they'd all find home to that tune, which is damn eeriee, really sticks nice that way, really sells the revolutionary and angry nature of it. I could almost picture (but not find the words) for more verses, and see the last two becoming something like the chorus. It has that same strength in the words and how they are chosen, that same edge of attitude and anger and vicious commitment that can be found in that Irish Rebel Song. I think this could grow with, but of course its not my setting. Maybe not more official verses, but I wonder if there could be reference that in different areas, children may add verses and reference individuals within the oppressive regime whom have affected their lives directly, it really has that customizable feel to the way you've written those first four parts. Really sticks in the ear well done Moonlight :)
THANK YOU!!! That was exactly the feel I was going for, old revolutionary folk song + summer camp freestyle + children being horrible about things. I was raised on songs like Barbara Allen, Mountains of Mourne, and Foggy Dew. Not just the songs, but the stories behind them, who Barbara Villiers was, why they weren't wearing tops on their dresses, and what was so important about that foggy Easter. I've also got (according to family oral history) a heavy dose of French revolutionary ancestry in my mingled-mutt American family background. I've certainly got it in my attitude. And so I tossed that into a blender with some of the ancient, horrible rhymes like "Ring Around the Rosie," and voila. Like all the best pieces of pre-war propaganda, it's a call to hope, a warning of danger, a preface of what's about to happen, and finally a call to action. "Be like the sand fox. Watch out for the Cult. Karma's coming for the ***s. Oh, by the way, YOU are karma's agent." LOL
Haly, the Moonlight Bard