eny, meny, miny, mo

[Peter A. McGraw]

Strange.  So far nobody else has offered the version I grew up with (in
Oklahoma and S. California):

Eeny, meeny, miney, Moe,
Catch a TURKEY by the toe.
If he hollers make him pay
Thirty dollars every day.
My-mother-told-me-to-choose-this-very-best-ONE.

I don't recall questions of logic ever intruding upon my tranquil
acceptance of this version.  I do recall other kids having variations on
the "turkey" part (including "nigger") and on the subsequent lines.  The
only last-part variation I remember is:

If he hollers let him go.
Eeny, meeny, miney, Moe.

Peter Mc.


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                               Peter A. McGraw
                   Linfield College   *   McMinnville, OR
                            pmcgraw at linfield.edu