Now We Are Six

The King of Peru

(Who was Emperor too)

Had a sort of a rhyme

Which was useful to know,

If he felt very shy

When a stranger came by,

Or they asked him the time

When his watch didn’t go;

Or supposing he fell

(By mistake) down a well,

Or he tumbled when skating

And sat on his hat,

Or perhaps wasn’t told,

Till his porridge was cold,

That his breakfast was waiting

Or something like that;

Oh, whenever the Emperor

Got into a temper, or

Felt himself sulky or sad,

He would murmur and murmur,

Until he felt firmer,

This curious rhyme which he had:

Eight eights are sixty-four ;

Multiply by seven .

When it’s done ,

Carry one ,

And take away eleven .

Nine nines are eighty-one ;

Multiply by three .

If it’s more ,

Carry four ,

And then it’s time for tea .

So whenever the Queen

Took his armour to clean,

And she didn’t remember

To use any starch;

Or his birthday (in May)

Was a horrible day,

Being wet as November

And windy as March;

Or, if sitting in state

With the Wise and the Great,

He just happened to hiccup

While signing his name,

Or the Queen gave a cough,

When his crown tumbled off

As he bent down to pick up

A pen for the same;

Oh, whenever the Emperor

Got into a temper, or

Felt himself awkward and shy,

He would whisper and whisper,

Until he felt crisper,

This odd little rhyme to the sky:

Eight eights are eighty-one ;

Multiply by seven .

If it’s more ,

Carry four ,

And take away eleven .

Nine nines are sixty-four ;

Multiply by three .

When it’s done ,

Carry one ,

And then it’s time for tea .