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IF IT RAINS WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING, IT IS A SIGN THAT IT WILL
RAIN TOMORROW (THE NEXT DAY).
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; MAYFIELD
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sun BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
WHEN I GOT MARRIED, THE MINISTER HAD ONLY ONE REQUEST.
HE ASKED US TO GET MARRIED BETWEEN HALF PAST AND THE
HOUR. THE REASON HE WANTED THIS WAS BECAUSE HE SAID
THAT IF THE MARRIAGE TOOK PLACE DURING THE FIRST HALF
HOUR, IT WOULD SURELY FAIL, AS THE CLOCK WAS ON THE
WAY DOWN.
James Callow comment: WHERE WAS THIS? DAYTON, OHIO
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Time or day of ceremony |
Date learned: 00-00-1943
AN OLD PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH CUSTOM, CALLED BUNGLING (?)
IS DONE BY TWO PEOPLE BEFORE THEY ARE MARRIED.
THEY MUST SPEND ONE NIGHT TOGETHER, IN THE GIRL'S
HOUSE, IN BED COMPLETELY COVERED BY THE COVERS.
THEY MUST DO THIS BEFORE THEY CAN GET MARRIED, AND
THE GIRL'S PARENTS MUST BE HOME WHEN IT IS DONE.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Bundling, bundleing, bunting |
Date learned: 00001968 FALL
STAR BRIGHT, STAR LIGHT,
FIRST STAR I SEE TONIGHT.
I WISH I MAY
I WISH I MIGHT
HAVE THE WISH
I WISH TONIGHT.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief Belief |
Date learned: 00001968 FALL
THE PLATYPUS
HOW GENTLE IS THE PLATYPUS,
IT NEITHER GROWLS NOR MAKES A FUSS,
BUT LIES IN ITS PRIMEVAL OOZE
AND HOLDS THE MOST PACIFIC VIEWS;
A LOVING CREATURE, LOVED BY ALL,
IT HAS NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO BRAWL;
WHICH MAY, OR MAY NOT, BE THE ROISON
FOR ITS TWO GLANDS OF DEADLY POISON.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.442 |
Date learned: 00001968 FALL
THE KANGAROO
THE VERY BEST AUSTRALIAN STEW
ALWAYS INCLUDES A KANGAROO.
SO IF ONE HAPPENS TO BE SHOT,
JUST TRY IT WHEN YOU MAKE A POT.
LEST YOU BECOME A LAUGHING-STOCK IT
MAY BE AS WELL TO SEARCH ITS POCKET
FOR ODDS AND ENDS THAT IT MAY HOLD;-
LIKE LOZENGES (AGAINST A COLD)-
OR RUBBER BANDS OR BITS OF STRING-
OR BOTTLE TOPS OR ANYTHING
THAT FILLED THE WRETCHED CREATURE'S NEEDS
FROM ROLLS OF BRAID TO COLOURED BEADS.
SUCH ADJUNCTS (AS THE GOURMET HAS IT)
POSSESS NO CULINARY ASSET.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.442 |
Date learned: 00001968 FALL
THE FAST RUNNER
DURING THE NINETIES, WHEN SHEEP WERE POPULAR IN AUSTRALIA,
THIS STORY DEVELOPED. THE BOSS OF A STATION TOLD A HAND
TO GO ROUND UP SOME OF THE SHEEP. THE BOSS DIDN'T TELL
HIM TO USE A HORSE AND A DOG.
WHEN THE BOSS CAME BACK, HE FOUND THE HAND HEAVING
AND PANTING, BUT THE SHEEP ALL ROUNDED UP, AND A HARE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOB. "YES," SAID THE BLOKE, "I
MUSTERED THEM ALL BY MYSELF, DIDN'T NEED NO DOG. AND
IT WASN'T NO TROUBLE AT ALL--NOT WITH THE -UNS; THEY
CAN'T RUN FOR NUTS! BUT THAT LITTLE BROWN BEGGAR IN
THE MIDDLE, I TELL YOU HE COULD RUN."
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Stupid man or woman |
Date learned: DON'T KNOW
THE DOVES
OUTSIDE MY WINDOW PANE
THE DOVES ARE MATING ONCE AGAIN
THEY BOW, THEY BILL, THEY FLAP, THEY FLUTTER
FROM ROOF TO RAIL, FROM GATE TO GUTTER.
THEY PECK AND PREEN AND SCRATCH AND SCATTER,
MAKING THE MOST INFERNAL CHATTER--
A COURSE OF CONDUCT OPPORTUNE,
NO DOUBT, TO SUCH A MONTH AS JUNE.
AND YET, I MUST CONFESS I FIND
SUCH BEDLAM (TO THE TEMPERATE MIND),
WHEN EMPHASISED WITHOUT ABATEMENT,
MERELY BECOMES AN OVER-STATEMENT.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; ONOMATOPAEIA ; PHONETIC INTENSIVE: FLAP, FLUTTER ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.444 |
Date learned: CA10001968
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THE KOALA
Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.
THE NATIVE BEAR IS SMALL OF STATURE
AND SPECIALLY ENDOWED BY NATURE
WITH MEANS EXCLUSIVELY EQQUIPPED ( EQUIPPED )
TO LIVE ON LEAVES OF EUCALYPT.
IT'S ( ITS ) VISCERA, THOUGH, DOUBTLESS CLEAN,
MUST NEEDS BE VERY, VERY GREEN.
AND THEREFORE WE REVEAL THIS FACT
(TOLD SOTTO VOCE AND WITH TACT)
IT'S UPHILL WORK TO GET KOALA
STAINS OFF CARPETS IN YOUR PARLOUR.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; HUMOR ; IMPERFECT RHYME ; MONOLOGUE ; PRONUNCIATION ; RHYME: AABB ; SCATOLOGICAL
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.442 |
Date learned: CA10001968
THE MARSUPIAL MOLE
LIKE MILTON, THE MARSUPIAL MOLE
PURSUES HIS OWN UNWORLDLY GOAL.
SIGHTLESS HE SLEEPS WITHIN THE EARTH
REMOVED FROM MADNESS AND FROM MIRTH.
AS DAYS AND NIGHTS AND SEASONS PASS
OVER THE CHANGING DESERT GRASS
HE FLOATS UPON HIS SECRET STREAMS
OF MARVELLOUS MARSUPIAL DREAMS,
AND MIXES WITH CELESTIAL BREEDS
MORE SUITED TO HIS AIMS AND NEEDS--
CONSORTING WITH (UPON THE WHOLE)
A BETTER TYPE OF LADY MOLE.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.44I |
Date learned: CA10001968
THE ECHIDNA
THE MALE ECHIDNA WITH ITS MATE
SURVIVES THE MOST PRECARIOUS STATE;
HE ROLLS HER, HAIR AND SPINES AND ALL
INTO AN EENZY-WEENZY BALL--
AND BURIES HER; AND IN THIS WAY
PROVIDES AGAINST A RAINY DAY.
BUT, LIKE AS NOT, THIS SAME ECHIDNA
FORGETS JUST IF, OR WHERE, HE'S HID NA.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
Keyword(s): HUMOR ; MONOLOGUE ; PRONUNCIATION ; RHYME: AABB ; SLANG
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Prose Narrative C820.442 |
Date learned: CA10001968
THE HOOK
THIS OCCURS ON A DARK AND WINDRY NIGHT. A COUPLE HAD GONE
OUT PARKING NEAR AN INSANE ASYLUM. THEY WERE GETTING
READY TO LEAVE, AND TURNED ON THE RADIO JUST IN TIME TO
HEAR THAT A PERSON HAD ESCAPED FROM THE NEARBY ASYLUM.
HE COULD BE IDENTIFIED BY A HOOK, INSTEAD OF A HAND. THE COUPLE
LEFT AND WHEN THE BOY WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE CAR TO OPEN THE DOOR, AND HANGING THERE WAS THE HOOK. THE
COUPLE NEVER PARKED AGAIN.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Dating Courtship BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails |
Date learned: 12-00-1968
UNTITLED
GOING TO MICHIGAN STATE, I WAS TOLD THAT IF EVER A VIRGIN GRADUATES
FROM HERE, THE STATUE OF THE MAN WILL DROP THE BALL HE HOLDS.
DO NOT EXPECT IT SOON, IT HAS LASTED A LONG TIME ALREADY.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
James Callow Keyword(s): IRONY ; PESSIMSIM ; SEXISM
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 10-00-1965
"OH, CAPTAIN! OH, CAPTAIN! LET'S MAKE FOR SHORE,
FOR THE WINDS THEY DO RAGE, AND THE WAVES THEY DO ROAR!"
"NAY, NAY," SAID THE CAPTAIN, "THOUGH THE FIERCE WINDS MAY
BLOW,
I WILL STICK TO MY VESSEL, WITH A YO-HEAVE-A YOH.
FAREWELL TO THE MAIDEN, THE GIRL I ADORE,
FAREWELL TO MY FRIENDS, I SHALL SEE THEM NO MORE."
THE CREW SHRIEKED WITH TERROR, THE CAPTAIN HE SWORE:
THEY HAD STRUCK ON A SANDBANK, SO THE MEN WALKED ASHORE.
Where learned: AUSTRALIA ; TOORAK ; VICTORIA
Keyword(s): ACCIDENTS SHIPS ; METER: ANAPESTIC ; RHYME: MASCULINE, IMPERFECT, AAAA ; SURPRISE ENDING DIALOGUE ; THIRD PERSON NARRATIVE
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Narrative Verse |
GREEK RETORT
KNOCK ALL YOU WANT AT A DEAF MAN'S DOOR.
Submitter comment: YOU SAY THIS TO A BULL-HEADED OR STUBBORN PERSON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): GREEK TRANSLATION ON 5 X 8 CARD. ; TRANSLATION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
GREEK RETORT
THE MULE CALLS THE CHICKEN-FAT HEAD.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS USED TO TELL SOMEONE OFF WHEN THEY ARE YOU TO
DO OR SAY SOMETHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
James Callow Keyword(s): GREEK LANGUAGE RETORT IS ON 5 X 8 CARD. ; TRANSLATION
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
TONGUETWISTER?
GRADE SCHOOL CHILDREN OFTEN TELL THEIR FRIENDS TO SAY
"MY FATHER OWNS A SHIP YARD," WHILE HOLDING THEIR
TONGUES. WHAT USUALLY TURNS OUT IS THIS: "MY FATHER
OWNS A SHIT YARD."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-15-1969
THE WHIFFENPOOF
THE 800-POUND WHIFFENPOOF WAS CAPABLE OF RUNNING BACKWARD. IT WAS
CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACE OF AN ELK, ANTLERS, SHARP HOOVES AND
HIND QUARTERS THAT SLOPED ABRUPTLY LIKE THOSE OF A GIRAFFE. THE
BULL WHIFFENPOOFS WERE EQUIPPED WITH TWO ADAM'S APPLES WHICH
CLICKED TOGETHER LIKE A PAIR OF DICE, AND PROVIDED A MEANS OF
CONVERSATION. THE COWS SCREAMED LIKE A SOPRANO SINGING WITH A
SORE THROAT.
THE WHIFFENPOOF UNDERWENT PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS WITH MODERNITY,
AND IN ITS MOST RECENT FORM, BORE RED AND GREEN LIGHTS AT THE
STERN. WHEN THE WHIFFENPOOF RAN FORWARD, IT SWITCHED ON ITS GREEN
LIGHT; AND WHEN IT RAN BACKWARD IT FLASHED THE RED LIGHT.
THEIR ENEMY WAS THE TIMBER WOLF.
THE WHIFFS AND THE TIMBER WOLVES WERE IN A CONTINUAL STATE OF WAR-
FARE. THE WHIFFS USUALLY OUTSMARTED THE WOLVES. THEY GOT THE
WOLVES TO CHASE THEM, AND THEN SUDDENLY RAN BACKWARD, TRAMPLING
THEIR ENEMIES INTO THE EARTH.
THE WARFARE BECAME VERY BITTER. WOLVES MOVED DOWN FROM MICHIGAN TO
EXTERMINATE THE WHIFFENPOOF AND THE BATTLE WAS TERRIFIC. THE
EARTH SHOOK FROM THE THUNDER OF THE WHIFFENPOOF HOOVES, AND
KNOCKED PICTURES FROM THE WALLS OF THE PIONEERS' HOMES. THE
WHIFFS HAD THEIR GREEN LIGHTS ON, AND THE NIGHT BECAME SO BRIGHT
THAT SCHOOL CHILDREN COULD READ THEIR PRIMERS WITHOUT THE AID
OF TALLOW DIP CANDLES.
THEY CHASED THE MICHIGAN WOLVES INTO LAKE ERIE; BUT A BIG DISPLAY
OF NORTHERN LIGHTS, OR AURORA BOREALIS, WAS ON, AND THE WHIFFS
BECAME CONFUSED. THEY THOUGHT THEIR COMRADES WERE FLASHING ON THE
GREEN LIGHTS FOR GUIDANCE, AND SWAM AROUND IN CIRCLES UNTIL THEY
WERE SO EXHAUSTED THAT THEY DROWNED. ONE WHIFFENPOOF SURVIVED.
HE SWAN TO A LAKE ERIE ISLAND OFF THE OHIO COAST AND LIVED THERE
FOR YEARS. HE WAS KNOWN AS "OLD OTTO."
BUT ONE DAY "OLD OTTO" ATE A PAIR OF OVERALLS FROM A FARMER'S
CLOTHESLINE, AND THE OVERALLS CLOGGED HIS THROAT. HIS TWO
ADAM'S APPLES WOULDN'T CLICK TOGETHER, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO TALK
TO HIMSELF. SO HE DIED OF LONELINESS.
Submitter comment:
THE WHIFFENPOOF WAS CREATED BY THE HESSIAN MERCENARIES WHO FOUGHT
FOR ENGLAND DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. AFTER THE WAR MANY
OF THEM SETTLED IN PENNSYLVANIA AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE PEOPLE
KNOWN AS THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; DETROIT ; DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A DRIVER'S NIGHT PRAYER
NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP,/ I PARKED MY CAR ACROSS THE STREET.
AND IF IT ROLLS BEFORE I WAKE,/I PRAY THE LORD TO PULL THE BRAKE.
Submitter comment: TAKEN FROM INFORMANT'S AUTOGRAPH BOOK.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): IMPERFECT RHYME ; QUATRAIN ACCIDENT AUTOMOBILE PARODY OF PRAYER ; RHYME: AABB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse Lyrical Verse Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse |
AUTOGRAPH VERSE (COLLECTOR'S TITLE)
I THOUGHT AND THOUGHT, I THOUGHT IN VAIN,
BUT ALL I COULD THINK OF WAS TO SIGN MY NAME.
Submitter comment:
THIS ITEM WAS WRITTEN IN THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF COLETTE'S BY A
SCHOOLMATE.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; IMPERFECT RHYME ; ITERATION ; RHYME: AA ; RHYME: ABCB
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Announcing a signature |
Date learned: 10-08-1967