As I was going to St Ives

Hello Poetry Lovers

We all know ‘As I was going to St Ives..’. They call this traditional piece a nursery rhyme but I would say this was a riddle. I do remember it catching me out. A simple question, yet not. A very intriguing piece of writing.

Inspired by my lovely pal Trisha Broomfield’s recent trip to St Ives, I couldn’t resist featuring and illustrating this piece, especially with cats involved. Although it seems cruel they’re in a sack with their kitties, so I’ve put them in a shopping trolley. Presumably they weren’t big on animal welfare then.

And seven wives?! Isn’t that bigamy?! Did anyone report this man to the Police?! Believe that’s a very serious charge!

As I was going to St. Ives,

I met a man with seven wives,

Each wife had seven sacks,

Each sack had seven cats,

Each cat had seven kits:

Kits, cats, sacks, and wives,

How many were there going to St Ives?

Well, I’m not sure in this case whether the old ones are really the best but I hope you enjoyed that riddle. Answers on a postcard please to the usual address….

This is a better route to St Ives! Very wise cat there.

Thanks for tuning in, PL’s. We’ll be back with more poetry action real soon….