Saturday, May 14, 2005

Crows' Counting Rhyme



This old rhyme is one of several versions that uses crows to tell fortunes.

One for sorrow
Two for mirth
Three for a wedding
Four for a birth
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret not to be told.

3 comments:

Saints and Spinners said...

That's why I like them. Also, I can relate to their love of shiny objects.

Have you read "Trickster's Choice" by Tamora Pierce? I think it is well-written (unlike some of the earlier stuff, but hey, at least she's been working on her craft for years?) Crows occupy a major part of the plot-line, including the romantic tension.

Philip said...

Neil Gaiman used that rhyme in an issue of The Sandman called "The Parliament of Rooks". The issue was about a gathering of storytellers, including Eve, Cain, and Abel - or versions thereof - in The Dreaming.

Saints and Spinners said...

Philip the Pun-- Do you have that issue of The Sandman by Neil Gaiman? I don't know anything about it and now will have to do some research. Blast it all! I'm addicted to research.

Galatea--
Pullman said that HIS daemon would be a magpie, too! The "what would your daemon be?" conversation is fun to have. Bede said his daemon would be a porcupine. Mine would be a rabbit. Lee Scorsby's hare is much cooler, of course, but if I were to go on coolness alone, my daemon would be a blue-footed booby. Then, I'd have to spend all my life in the Galapagos. Bummer!:)

For those interested, here is a rundown of the major characters of His Dark Materials with corresponding daemons, when applicable.
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hisdarkmaterials/characters.html