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Refurbished Nursery Rhymes: Peter Piper's Peculiar Pepper Patch

"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers…" Every time I hear a kid recite this twisted rhyme, I'm 'minded how 'gainst Mother Nature it's a crime. What that peck of peppers was no one can tell, Perhaps banana, jalapeño, cherry, bell. But whate'er they were, it's plain, at least to me, That such a peck as that came off no bush nor tree. For years this simple nursery flaw Has scraped, and scoured, and rubbed me raw, And in my very craw the thing's been sticking. So to bring the problem up to date, And to try and set the record straight, I've checked with Vlasik, Clausen, Kraft, And all agree the notion's daft That peppers can be pickled prior to picking. Author's note: Of course, there could have been a typo in the original manuscript, and Peter actually "packed a peck of pickled peppers", or maybe Peter, himself, was partially "pickled" when he picked 'em. Entered in Tom Woody's Nursery Rhyme Wackiness Poetry Contest on July 16, 2024.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2023




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Date: 7/21/2024 10:26:00 AM
Cool way to do the contest. Congrats
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Jim Slaughter
Date: 7/21/2024 10:35:00 AM
Andrea, thanks a "peck"...
Date: 7/21/2024 8:05:00 AM
Wow of all the times I've heard it said this rhyme I never caught that flaw! You worded this perfectly as an old mother goose rhyme would sound I think...and bought out the mistake with humor! Xo
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Jim Slaughter
Date: 7/21/2024 10:19:00 AM
Thanks, Crystol. Amazing, isn't it, how easy it was, back in our childhood days, to take these things at face value.
Date: 7/20/2024 10:49:00 PM
This is a clever one, love the wordplay and how youv delivered it too. Pleasure reading this, Brilliant! Congratulations on your win
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Jim Slaughter
Date: 7/21/2024 10:17:00 AM
I E. thanks. I really enjoy writing these, and this one is one of my personal favorites.
Date: 7/20/2024 3:13:00 PM
Congratulations on your win Jim.
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Jim Slaughter
Date: 7/21/2024 10:16:00 AM
Thank you, Tonye.
Date: 7/20/2024 1:04:00 PM
I remember this tongue twisting gem. Congrats on placement Jim
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Jim Slaughter
Date: 7/20/2024 1:34:00 PM
Thanks, Tom.
Date: 8/11/2023 3:58:00 PM
Creative and clever thou art, Jim. A fine and entertaining poem to read, my friend. I especially enjoyed the author's note. Well done! Write On! A poet friend in Texas, Bill
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Jim Slaughter
Date: 8/12/2023 10:38:00 AM
Thanks, Bill. And I wasn't a bit "pickled" when I tackled this one.
Date: 8/9/2023 2:24:00 PM
Ha! I remember you used to mess with nursery rhymes like me. Yes, just how did those peppers pickle before being picked? We may never know
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Tom Woody
Date: 8/10/2023 11:54:00 AM
Particularly peculiar since pundits proffer that peppers never pickle until after picking. Pshaw!
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Jim Slaughter
Date: 8/10/2023 11:02:00 AM
Thanks, Tom, and, yes, that's what bothered me about this rhyme. Very peculiar goings-on with Peter the pickled peppers picker.
Date: 8/8/2023 8:36:00 PM
Clever, I never thought of it that way, well done, Jim:)
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Jim Slaughter
Date: 8/9/2023 10:52:00 AM
Thanks, Joanna.
Date: 8/8/2023 4:21:00 PM
haha. I agree with Laura here. Very witty.
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Jim Slaughter
Date: 8/9/2023 10:53:00 AM
Andrea, thanks.
Date: 8/8/2023 1:41:00 PM
Your witty poem is both brilliant and hilarious at the same time, Jim! Very entertaining and enjoyable! :)
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Jim Slaughter
Date: 8/9/2023 10:53:00 AM
Wow! two for one...I'll take it! Thank you, Laura. Glad you enjoyed it.

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