The Geese and the Cranes — Nursery Rhyme Lyrics

The Geese and the Cranes fed in the same meadow. A bird-catcher came to ensnare them in his nets. The Cranes, being light of wing, fled away at his approach; while the Geese, being slower of flight and heavier in their bodies, were captured.
Those who are caught are not always the most guilty.

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Learning from "The Geese and the Cranes"

Nursery rhymes are some of the best teachers of rhythm and rhyme. "The Geese and the Cranes" uses 2 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 The Geese and the Cranes?
The lyrics to The Geese and the Cranes are: The Geese and the Cranes fed in the same meadow. A bird-catcher came to ensnare them in his nets. The Cranes, being light of wing, fled away at his approach; while the Geese, being slower of flight and heavier in their bodies, were captured. / Those who are caught are not always the most guilty.
How many lines does The Geese and the Cranes have?
"The Geese and the Cranes" has 2 lines of verse.

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