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The title of this article is conjectural.
Although it is based on canonical information, the term "Maple, Maypole" has not been confirmed.

Maple, Maypole is a counting rhyme or choosing song used to make choices.

Description

Employing this technique usually requires no materials, and is performed with spoken words and hand gestures. It involves one person pointing at each item in a circle or row while reciting the rhyme. A new item is pointed at as each word is said. The item selected at the conclusion of the entire rhyme or a couplet of the rhyme is the chosen item.

There are two versions of the rhyme:

Waystone version

[1]

Maple. Maypole.
Catch and carry.
Ash and Ember.
Elderberry.

Woolen. Woman.
Moon at night.
Willow. Window.
Candlelight.

Barrel. Barley.
Stone and stave.
Wind and water-
...

Bonfire version

[2]

Maple. Maypole.
Catch and carry.
Ash and Ember.
Elderberry.

Fallow farrow.
Ash and oak.
Bide and borrow.
Chimney smoke.

Barrel. Barley.
Stone and stave.
Wind and water.
Misbehave.

In the Chronicle

At the beginning of the second day of Kvothe's storytelling, Bast employs the Maple, Maypole counting rhyme to choose between the row of bottles at the bar of the Waystone Inn to create a cocktail of liquor. At the word "elderberry" his finger stopped at a green bottle. He dismissed the bottle after taking a sip and picked a red one instead. At the word "Candlelight" his finger stopped at a bottle with pale yellow liquor. When he continued the rhyme for the third word he was disrupted by Kote's arrival at the common room.[1]

At the end of the day, Bast meets up with the two soldiers he arranged to attack the inn. Each of the soldiers try to convince Bast to drink their bottle of liquor they robbed from Kote. Bast appears as if he is unable to decide and employs the counting rhyme to choose between the bottles. At the word "Elderberry" he ends up with the yellow bottle, which contains elderberry liquor, and he drinks from it. He continued his rhyme at random things in the environment and at the word "smoke" he ends up pointing at the fire where he pulled out a branch. He finished the last couplet of the rhyme with the burning branch pointing at one of the soldier.[2]

Trivia

  • The purpose and usage of Maple Maypole sounds similar to the children's common counting rhyme known as Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Wise Man's Fear, Chapter 1: "Apple and Elderberry"
  2. 2.0 2.1 The Wise Man's Fear, Chapter 152: "Elderberry"
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