Bunches of Grapes Lyrics
Three children each say what they would like. Timothy wants bunches of grapes, love-in-a-mist and chariots of gold. Elaine wants pomegranates, pale primroses and silvery wings. Jane asks for a cream junket, a posy and a ride in a hay wagon.
Bunches of Grapes
'Bunches of grapes,' says Timothy;
'Pomegranates pink,' says Elaine;
'A junket of cream and a cranberry tart
For me,' says Jane.
'Love-in-a-mist,' says Timothy;
'Primroses pale,' says Elaine;
'A nosegay of pinks and mignonette
For me,' says Jane.
'Chariots of gold,' says Timothy;
'Silvery wings,' says Elaine;
'A bumpity ride in a wagon of hay
For me,' says Jane.
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/bunches-of-grapes/
- Type
- Poems for Children
- Written by
- Walter de la Mare
- Tune
- Three different voices, with Jane's lines said most plainly
- Best for ages
- 3 to 8 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| A bumpity ride in a wagon of hay | Bounce up and down gently on your seat. |
| Silvery wings | Flap your arms slowly, like silver wings. |
What Does Bunches of Grapes Mean?
Each child's wish list shows who they are. Timothy's are rich: grapes, the blue garden flower love-in-a-mist and golden chariots. Elaine's are dreamy: pomegranates, the red-seeded fruit, pale primroses and silvery wings. Jane's are the closest to home: a junket (a soft sweet dish made from milk), a cranberry tart, a nosegay (a small bunch of flowers) of pinks and mignonette, and a bumpy ride in a hay wagon.
All three verses use the same pattern: Timothy, then Elaine, then Jane, with the line "For me," says Jane" closing each verse. Elaine and Jane rhyme, so the last line of each verse lands on Jane. Nobody is told who gets their wish, so it is a good one to ask a child to finish.
History and Origin
Walter de la Mare, an English poet best remembered for his works for children, published Songs of Childhood in 1902, and this poem is in it.
Learning Activities
- Your wish list: ask the child to say three wishes in the same pattern, one fancy, one dreamy and one down-to-earth.
- Three voices: read the poem with three people, one for each child, and swap parts.
- Pick a fruit: if you have grapes or another fruit at home, taste it while you read the poem's list.
- Hay ride: bounce on a cushion or a knee to the beat of the last verse.