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Cockle Pickers

Posted by Barney on February 08, 2004

In Reply to: Cockle Pickers posted by Henry on February 08, 2004

: : I think that, as the previous contributors have identified, the cockle is a heart-shaped mollusc.
: : This leads to the combination of "Cockle" and "Heart". Indeed, in German, it is called the edible heart-mussel (essbare Herzmuschel).
: : We may also remember that a shell is a "coquille" in French - this is IMHO the origin of cockle since the similarity is striking. We English have the French to thank for a large part of our language ('education & intellectual words') and our Germanic forebears for much of the rest (everyday farmer life words).

: To the Cockle Pickers

: The siren sounds each tide across the bay,
: "Beware you pilgrims walking on the sands"
: And every traveller hurries on his way
: Towards the treasure of the Promised Land.

: Ring out anew you careworn Cartmel bells
: To tell that nineteen men have lost their race,
: And peal across the lonely Furness Fells
: That nineteen souls today seek God's good grace.

So well said; so very well said.

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