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Requiem — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

There was a young belle of old Natchez
Whose garments were always in patchez.
When comment arose
On the state of her clothes,
She replied, "When Ah itchez, Ah scratchez."

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Learning from "Requiem"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Requiem" uses 5 lines to create a memorable verse — proof that effective poetry doesn't need to be long. Pay attention to the meter: the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables is what makes the rhyme stick in your head.

Songwriters and poets can borrow these patterns. Try writing your own lyrics using the same rhyme scheme and line length as this nursery rhyme. You can also use words from the poem above as starting points — click any word to find rhymes or look up its definition, then build from there.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the words to Requiem?
The lyrics to Requiem are: There was a young belle of old Natchez / Whose garments were always in patchez. / When comment arose / On the state of her clothes, / She replied, "When Ah itchez, Ah scratchez."
How many lines does Requiem have?
"Requiem" has 5 lines of verse.