Little Poll Parrot

A pet parrot sits in his attic eating toast and tea until a brown mouse darts in and steals the lot. "Little Poll Parrot" packs that small theft into six bouncy lines, and its rhyme of "tea" with "away" gives away how the word was once pronounced.

Origins

The earliest documented printed version of the rhyme was published in 1842 by the folklorist James Orchard Halliwell in the first edition of his compilation, The Nursery Rhymes of England. While the rhyme gained widespread familiarity through Victorian children's books, some scholars suggest that the character of Poll Parrot has roots in seventeenth-century English street songs and theatrical performances.

Meaning & Interpretation

On a literal level, the rhyme is a lighthearted warning about paying attention to one's surroundings. The parrot is so engrossed in his food that he fails to notice the intruder, allowing the mouse to steal the meal. A notable aspect of the rhyme is the historical pronunciation of the word "tea." In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, "tea" was frequently pronounced as "tay" to rhyme with "away," a feature also found in other traditional songs such as "Polly Put the Kettle On." The term "garret" refers to an attic room, suggesting a modest household setting where the parrot and the mouse interact.

When was Little Poll Parrot first published?

The rhyme was first published in print in 1842 in James Orchard Halliwell's pioneering collection The Nursery Rhymes of England.

What is the meaning of Little Poll Parrot?

The rhyme tells a simple story about a distracted parrot whose tea and toast are stolen by a mouse. It is used as a rhythmic nursery rhyme to teach children pronunciation and the importance of being aware of their surroundings.