The Miser Wife

A Nursery Rhyme I have written, inspired by the morbid rhymes written about past killers.  My rhyme is about a fictional murderess, Penny, who killed her children to feed her husband, boiling all but their little toes, which she made into a necklace.  She was wearing the necklace when she was arrested.

The Miser Wife

by Lisa McCourt Hollar 

Penny, Penny, the miser wife,

Killed her children ‘neath the knife.

She cooked them in a pot of stew

And served them with a vat of brew.

 When her husband consumed his meal,

 Then the truth she did reveal.

 Her husband cried and gnashed his teeth,

 His father’s heart seized by grief.

Silent, silent, shushed his wife,

Killing her husband ‘neath her knife.

She cut his tongue to stop his cries,

Their marriage ending with his demise.

They hung her ‘neath the hangman’s tree,

Though her evil soul still roams free.

Hunting the child that survived that night,

Hiding from her, silent wit fright.

Hide, hide, from the miser wife,

Lest you die beneath her knife,

Don’t let her hear your cries of woe,

Or she’ll take your little toe.

Copyright© 2011 Lisa McCourt Hollar.  All rights reserved.