![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Plum Stones
I had red plums for lunch- fresh from a tin which surfaced during the move, having been sitting about at the back of a cupboard for years- and afterwards counted the stones.
I know two fortune-telling, stone-counting rhymes. The first is the classic one- patted on the back and sent on its way reinvigorated by John Le Carre- which goes, "Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief."
I'll guess that it's 19th century for no better reason than so much of our children's lore is- but it could be very much older. There's nothing about it that dates it.
The second is more recondite. It goes "Soldier brave, sailor true, daring airman, Oxford blue, skilled physician, squire so hale, gouty nobleman, curate pale."
It's obviously 20th century because of the airman. Early 20th century to be more precise- when airman were still daring and not just regular blokes doing a regular job.
I wonder if it's still current...
The way to fix the oracle- dodge the meaner outcomes and strike lucky every time, is- of course- to dip into the tin yourself- but not many children in the good old days would have had that much agency. They took the fate that nursey dished out and liked it or lumped it.
I know I did.
And I've just noticed something I hadn't spotted before- which is that the more plums you eat- beyond a certain point- the less favorable the augury- so moderation is rewarded. Don't ask for seconds or you'll wind up on the streets- or worse...
"Curate pale"; O dear, o dear, o dear.....
I know two fortune-telling, stone-counting rhymes. The first is the classic one- patted on the back and sent on its way reinvigorated by John Le Carre- which goes, "Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief."
I'll guess that it's 19th century for no better reason than so much of our children's lore is- but it could be very much older. There's nothing about it that dates it.
The second is more recondite. It goes "Soldier brave, sailor true, daring airman, Oxford blue, skilled physician, squire so hale, gouty nobleman, curate pale."
It's obviously 20th century because of the airman. Early 20th century to be more precise- when airman were still daring and not just regular blokes doing a regular job.
I wonder if it's still current...
The way to fix the oracle- dodge the meaner outcomes and strike lucky every time, is- of course- to dip into the tin yourself- but not many children in the good old days would have had that much agency. They took the fate that nursey dished out and liked it or lumped it.
I know I did.
And I've just noticed something I hadn't spotted before- which is that the more plums you eat- beyond a certain point- the less favorable the augury- so moderation is rewarded. Don't ask for seconds or you'll wind up on the streets- or worse...
"Curate pale"; O dear, o dear, o dear.....