Ring-a-ring o’ roses,
A pocket full of posies.
A-tishoo! A-tishoo!
We all fall down!
This rhyme, is a famous nursery rhyme from over a century ago, and parents sang it to their children. Although it is not certain when it was made, some scholars say it was made at the end of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century.
I didn’t know about this rhyme until recently, when I was listening to Roses by CHVRCHES, and I was thinking—extensively—on what does it mean?!!
Then I searched for it and read about it. Despite its origin being unknown and the story being a myth, some say it might have originated during the Great Plague, when doctors used “posies”, herbs, and flowers to keep themselves safe from the plague, and people “a-tishoo”ed (sneezed), fell down, and lost their lives :(
Well, the myth really clicks when you compare parts of the rhyme with the actual events of the Great Plague. But according to Stephen Winick’s post on this rhyme, there is no direct evidence that it is related to the Great Plague, especially since there is a 200-year gap between the plague and the rhyme.
And those who know me might know how my mind works :) It’s a linked network of thoughts, memories, and echoes, each tagged with key elements. The phrase “pocket full of posies” felt so familiar that it linked itself in my mind to a song I used to listen to a lot a while back: Ashes by Stellar.