Smyrna — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

There was a Young Person of Smyrna,
Whose Grandmother threatened to burn her;
But she seized on the Cat, and said, "Granny, burn that!
You incongruous Old Woman of Smyrna!"

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Learning from "Smyrna"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "Smyrna" uses 4 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the words to Smyrna?
The lyrics to Smyrna are: There was a Young Person of Smyrna, / Whose Grandmother threatened to burn her; / But she seized on the Cat, and said, "Granny, burn that! / You incongruous Old Woman of Smyrna!"
How many lines does Smyrna have?
"Smyrna" has 4 lines of verse.

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