Nursery Rhyme: CACKLE, CACKLE, MOTHER GOOSE

Cackle, Cackle, Mother Goose

Cackle, cackle, Mother Goose,
Have you any feathers loose?
Truly have I, pretty fellow,
Half enough to fill a pillow.
Here are quills, take one or two,
And down to make a bed for you.

Nursery Rhyme origins and history

The old nursery rhyme ’Cackle, cackle, Mother Goose’ clearly describes to a child the various usage that a goose has to offer - but why Mother Goose? The Origins of Mother Goose and the Identity of Mother Goose gives some answers to this question!  The phrase ’ Mother Goose ’ probably originates from the 1600’s - which coincides with the era of the great witch hunts. Comparisons can be made between  Mother Goose the popular conception of a witch during this period! The old illustration below of Mother Goose depicts an old crone, or witch, flying on a goose (instead of a broomstick). The first line of the Nursery Rhyme is ’Cackle, cackle, Mother Goose’  - descriptions of witches generally include reference to her ’cackle’. This word originally described the noise that a goose would make. More interesting information regarding the connection between Mother Goose and the witch can be via the above links.