不少的推理小說(shuō)或推理漫畫(huà)喜歡引用這首詩(shī)。如 S.S.范達(dá)因在 1928 年出版的著名推理小說(shuō)“The Bishop Murder Case”中即引用了這首與其余兩首鵝媽媽童謠麻雀殺了知更鳥(niǎo)，麻雀要在下回的審判中受審，殺人要償命!
Who killed Cock Robin? 知更鳥(niǎo)之死
誰(shuí)殺了知更鳥(niǎo)?
是我，麻雀說(shuō)，
用我的弓和箭，
我殺了知更鳥(niǎo)。
Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the Sparrow,
With my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin.
誰(shuí)看見(jiàn)他死去?
是我，蒼蠅說(shuō)，
用我的小眼睛，
我看見(jiàn)他死去。
Who saw him die?
I, said the Fly.
With my little eye,
I saw him die.
誰(shuí)取走他的血?
是我，魚(yú)說(shuō)，
用我的小碟子，
我取走他的血。
Who caught his blood?
I, said the Fish,
With my little dish,
I caught his blood.
誰(shuí)為他做壽衣?
是我，甲蟲(chóng)說(shuō)，
用我的針和線，
我會(huì)來(lái)做壽衣。
Who’ll make his shroud?
I, said the Beetle,
With my thread and needle,
I’ll make the shroud.
誰(shuí)來(lái)挖墳?zāi)?
是我，貓頭鷹說(shuō)，
用我的鑿子鏟子，
我會(huì)來(lái)挖墳?zāi)埂?/p>
Who’ll dig his grave?
I, said the Owl,
With my pick and shovel,
I’ll dig his grave.
誰(shuí)來(lái)當(dāng)牧師?
烏鴉說(shuō)，是我，
用我的小本子，
我會(huì)來(lái)做牧師。
Who’ll be the person?
I, said the Rook,
With my little book,
I’ll be the parson.
誰(shuí)來(lái)當(dāng)執(zhí)事?
是我，云雀說(shuō)，
只要不在夜晚，
我就會(huì)當(dāng)執(zhí)事。
Who’ll be the clerk?
I, said the Lark,
If it’s not in the dark,
I’ll be the clerk.
誰(shuí)來(lái)拿火炬?
紅雀說(shuō)，是我，
我立刻把它拿來(lái)。
我將會(huì)拿火炬。
Who’ll carry the link?
I, said the Linnet,
I’ll fetch it in a minute,
I’ll carry the link.
誰(shuí)來(lái)當(dāng)主祭?
是我，鴿子說(shuō)，
我要哀悼摯愛(ài)，
我將會(huì)當(dāng)主祭。
Who’ll be chief mourner?
I, said the Dove,
I mourn for my love,
I’ll be chief mourner.
誰(shuí)來(lái)抬棺?
是我，鳶說(shuō)，
如果不走夜路，
我就會(huì)來(lái)抬棺。
Who’ll carry the coffin?
I, said the Kite,
If it’s not through the night,
I’ll carry the coffin.
誰(shuí)來(lái)扶棺?
是我們，鷦鷯說(shuō)，
還有公雞和母雞，
我們會(huì)來(lái)扶棺。
Who’ll bear the pall?
We, said the Wren,
Both the cock and the hen,
We’ll bear the pall.
誰(shuí)來(lái)唱贊美詩(shī)?
畫(huà)眉說(shuō)，是我，
她站在灌木叢上，
我將唱贊美詩(shī)。
Who’ll sing a psalm?
I, said the Thrush,
As she sat on a bush,
I’ll sing a psalm.
誰(shuí)來(lái)敲喪鐘?
是我，牛說(shuō)，
因?yàn)槲夷芾蟆?/p>
Who’ll toll the bell?
I, said the Bull,
Because I can pull,
所以，再會(huì)了，知更鳥(niǎo)。
空中所有的鳥(niǎo)，
全都嘆息哭泣
當(dāng)他們聽(tīng)見(jiàn)喪鐘，
為可憐的知更鳥(niǎo)響起。
So Cock Robin, farewell.
All the birds of the air
Fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll
For poor Cock Robin.
啟事
通告所有關(guān)系人，
這則啟事通知，
下回鳥(niǎo)兒法庭，
將要審判麻雀。
NOTICE
To all it concerns,
This notice apprises,
The Sparrow’s for trial,
At next bird assizes.
