Poor Mary

Poor Mary is a nursery and dancing game for children in a group. One child of the group is chosen to be "Mary" and has to kneel in the middle of a circle with the head in its hands. The other children join their hands and walk around the other child singing the following song:

:"Poor Mary sat a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,:"Poor Mary sat a-weeping on a bright summer’s day.:"On this carpet she shall kneel:"Till the grass grows in the field:"Stand up, stand up upon your feet:"And choose the one you love so sweet."

At this point of the song the child in the middle grasps another child from the circle, which becomes Marys husband. The also join hands and dance in the opposite direction as the circle dances and all sing:

:"Now you are married, you must be good:"And help your wife to chop the wood:"Chop, chop, chop!"

See also

* Kagome Kagome