Trois Myopic Rodents (Three Blind Mice)

Trois myopic rodents
Trois myopic rodents
Observe how they traverse
Observe how they traverse
They all pursued the agronomist's spouse
Who severed their appendages with a culinary implement
Have you ever observed such a startling phenomenon
As trois myopic rodents

 

Lest you stop there, note that many of the nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and fable are encrypted and politically charged messages understood best in context.

For instance, the "three blind mice" were said to be Protestant loyalists who, in 1555 were accused of a plot against Queen Mary I. They were who were burned at the stake for their "blindness," namely their Protestant beliefs. The farmer's wife in this scenario, is Mary.

The words have changed and become more innocent over the years

In 1609 when the first written version of the song was published by Thomas Ravenscroft in “Deuteromelia” or “The Seconde part of Musicks melodie”.

Today, it is just. "Three Blind Mice."

Three blind mice. Three blind mice.
See how they run. See how they run.
They all ran after the farmer’s wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a sight in your life,
As three blind mice?

What remains is the reality that language can reveal or obscure and sometimes, it does both at the same time.

 

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I am indebted to Bill Holohan for background in his excellent article on this subject:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/origin-story-three-blind-mice-bill-holohan/