If wishes were horses...

...beggars would ride.

I stated this charming little ditty in what was an attempt at an early morning conversation (I should know better) with my husband.  He said some things about it which prompted one of my I'net searches and I found that these words come out of the 16th century as a nursery rhyme.  It's called a English language proverb.

Wikipedia suggests lyrics as:

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
If turnips were watches, I'd wear one by my side.
If "if's" and "and's" were pots and pans,
There'd be no work for tinkers' hands.


... and a shorter version:

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
If turnips were bayonets, I'd wear one by my side.

The Wikipedia article turned out to be really interesting to me, and it was quite reassuring, in that I had remembered the words correctly and it was an entirely appropriate thing to say, given the context of what might have been a lovely, cozy conversation.  I seem to recall a table discussion in one of my college literature classes during the Olde English study periods, now that I think of it.  I think I'm going to look up something on "pillow talk" next.  

Sighing, 

Shawn

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