Five, six, pick up sticks: the sticks are wooden pins used on a lacemaking ‘machine’
Seven, eight, lay them straight: the pins are placed on the machine to go straight across the fabric from side to side - Nine, ten, a big fat hen: which is a type of ‘pillow’ that supports and holds the lacework
From 11 and 12 refers to the gardeners and from 13 & 14 maids in waiting to a large house or estate and so on up to 19 and 20 being served dinner by the kitchen staff with plates empty!
One two buckle my shoe poem One two buckle my shoe
Three, four, knock at the door
Five, six, pick up sticks
Seven, eight, lay them straight
Nine, ten, a big fat hen
Eleven, twelve, dig and delve
Thirteen, fourteen, maids a-courting
Fifteen, sixteen, maids in the kitchen
Seventeen, eighteen, maids in waiting
Nineteen, twenty, my plate's empty One two buckle my shoe poem |
