Hawkins Hollow Nursery Rhymes
Merry Cabbage Chant 063
“Tick-tock, slow and stop.” The actual engine is notice active pace → slow one movement → stop → choose quiet action → settle. Spencer names the slower pace; Austin completes one smaller pretend roll; both pause and listen.
Rhyme
Merry Cabbage Chant
Old stump school—roll, roll, play;
One pretend cabbage rolled our way.
Spencer said, “Let’s make it slow.”
Austin made one smaller roll.
Pond stones—tick-tock, stop;
Hands came down; the rolling stopped.
Both sat quietly by the breeze;
Listening softly near the trees.
Riverside bend—what shall we choose?
Hum one note or rest our shoes—
Or whisper silly, “Cabbage-clock!”
Then let our busy motions stop.
Tick-tock cabbages in make-believe play
Hushed their rolling through the day.
Tick-tock, slow and stop;
Quiet choices help play drop.
About This Rhyme
Performance style: Spoken or lightly chanted with two tick-tock taps, one slow sway, one pause, and one tiny choice.
Estimated spoken length: About 45–60 seconds with echoes.
Ways to Join In
- Roll: trace one small circle with empty hands or watch.
- Slow: make the next motion smaller and gentler.
- Stop: rest hands for one comfortable beat.
- Settle: sit, stay standing, hum quietly, or listen.
- Choose: rest or whisper “cabbage-clock.”
- Participation may be spoken, signed, gestured, seated, moving, or watching. Settling means lowering pace and stimulation; sleep, silence, closed eyes, and stillness are not required.