Little Poll Parrot

This traditional English nursery rhyme may date back to the seventeenth century, though the earliest known printed version appeared in James Orchard Halliwell's collection in the 1840s and was officially published in 1853. The rhyme follows a dactylic structure of six lines, the same pattern used in other classic rhymes like "Little Miss Muffet" and "Little Jack Horner."

The simple tale of a parrot enjoying toast and tea in his garret (attic room), only to have it stolen by a brown mouse, carries several gentle lessons for children. It serves as a cautionary tale about paying attention to one's surroundings and belongings. Some interpret it as encouraging mindful eating rather than rushing through meals, while others see it as a lesson about the wrongness of stealing, represented by the mouse's actions.

The rhyme is also notable for its historical pronunciation quirk: in older English, "tea" was pronounced to rhyme with "away," as evidenced in other nursery rhymes from the same period, such as "Polly Put the Kettle On." This gives us a glimpse into how English pronunciation has evolved over the centuries.