✦ The Rhyme ✦
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
Traditional English nursery rhyme. Public domain.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells, and cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row.
✦ A Nursery Rhyme ✦
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row.
Read aloud by Storyland Classics ✦ 25 seconds ✦ Watch on YouTube
✦ The Rhyme ✦
Traditional English nursery rhyme. Public domain.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells, and cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row.
✦ About the Rhyme ✦
An early version of this rhyme was printed in 1744. “Contrary” means someone who likes to do things the opposite way.
Mary’s garden is a puzzle: instead of plants, it has silver bells, cockle shells (the shells of a small sea creature), and pretty maids. Some say these were names for flowers, like bluebells and shell-shaped blossoms. It is a lovely rhyme to imagine and draw.
✦ Talk About It ✦