The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ITALIAN RHYME (ITALIAN ASSUMED)

MISELLA, MISELLA
METTI IL PANE ALLA CAVUTELLA
VIENE IL CATTO SE LO MANGIA
VIENE IL SORGIO NON LO TROVA
FRUSH, FRUSH, FRUSH.
KITTY, KITTY
PUT THE BREAD IN THE LITTLE HOLE
IF THE CAT EATS IT, THEN
THE MOUSE WON'T FIND IT,
SCAT, SCAT, SCAT.

Submitter comment: THIS POEM IS A PLAY RHYME THAT MOTHERS WILL USE WHEN
PLAYING WITH SMALL BABIES. THE MOTHER WILL SLOWLY AND
RHYTHMICALLY RUB HER HANDS UP AND DOWN ON THE BABY'S
FACE WHEN SHE IS RECITING THE VERSE AND THEN WILL PAT
THE BABY'S FACE VERY QUICKLY AND LIGHTLY WHEN SHE
COMES TO THE LINE: "FRUSH, FRUSH, FRUSH."

Where learned: BIRTHDAY PARTY AT HER HOME