Skip to content

The Dove And The Wren — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

The dove says coo, coo, what shall I do?
I can scarce maintain two.
Pooh, pooh! says the wren, I've got ten,
And keep them all like gentlemen.

Explore Words From This Rhyme

Learning from "The Dove And The Wren"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "The Dove And The Wren" 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.

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.

Create your own verse

Inspired by "The Dove And The Wren"? Try writing your own rhymes:

Generate a verse

Frequently asked questions

What are the words to The Dove And The Wren?
The lyrics to The Dove And The Wren are: The dove says coo, coo, what shall I do? / I can scarce maintain two. / Pooh, pooh! says the wren, I've got ten, / And keep them all like gentlemen.
How many lines does The Dove And The Wren have?
"The Dove And The Wren" has 4 lines of verse.