A Rainy Day Spell from Mother Goose

Vintage "A Little Golden Book" Mother Goose, 1942

Some Mother Goose verses are real noodle-scratchers that puzzle us and beg to be deciphered ... this one, however, speaks plain and simple.  Johnny would like to play outside and it would be a lot more pleasant to do so if it weren't raining.

Yet if you look closer, a spell emerges from this simple children's rhyme. I love to find the magic in the everyday around us!

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A spell to charm away the rain:

"Rain, rain, go away;"
Here the wish, want or desire is clearly stated.

"Come again another day;"
Here a caveat is placed to ensure that there will be no unwanted consequences (eg drought).

"Little Johnny wants to play."
This provides the emotional charge or feeling required to make the spell work. Johnny is waiting in the garden on a bench with a "heart" motif; just as he himself puts his heart into his wish by visualizing himself at play. Bucket and spade at the ready illustrates his belief that his wish will come true.

All the elements of a successful spell are present. The whole thing rhymes which makes it easy to remember and recite.  And as they say "3 times the charm". This is reflected in the amount of lines in the rhyme ... and reinforced by the number of ducklings.

Let's hope little Johnny gets his wish!

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2019