不少的推理小說或推理漫畫喜歡引用這首詩。如 S.S.范達(dá)因在 1928 年出版的著名推理小說“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，麻雀要在下回的審判中受審，殺人要償命!
Who killed Cock Robin? 知更鳥之死
誰殺了知更鳥?
是我，麻雀說，
用我的弓和箭，
我殺了知更鳥。
Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the Sparrow,
With my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin.
誰看見他死去?
是我，蒼蠅說，
用我的小眼睛，
我看見他死去。
Who saw him die?
I, said the Fly.
With my little eye,
I saw him die.
誰取走他的血?
是我，魚說，
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.
誰為他做壽衣?
是我，甲蟲說，
用我的針和線，
我會來做壽衣。
Who’ll make his shroud?
I, said the Beetle,
With my thread and needle,
I’ll make the shroud.
誰來挖墳?zāi)?
是我，貓頭鷹說，
用我的鑿子鏟子，
我會來挖墳?zāi)埂?/p>
Who’ll dig his grave?
I, said the Owl,
With my pick and shovel,
I’ll dig his grave.
誰來當(dāng)牧師?
烏鴉說，是我，
用我的小本子，
我會來做牧師。
Who’ll be the person?
I, said the Rook,
With my little book,
I’ll be the parson.
誰來當(dāng)執(zhí)事?
是我，云雀說，
只要不在夜晚，
我就會當(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.
誰來拿火炬?
紅雀說，是我，
我立刻把它拿來。
我將會拿火炬。
Who’ll carry the link?
I, said the Linnet,
I’ll fetch it in a minute,
I’ll carry the link.
誰來當(dāng)主祭?
是我，鴿子說，
我要哀悼摯愛，
我將會當(dāng)主祭。
Who’ll be chief mourner?
I, said the Dove,
I mourn for my love,
I’ll be chief mourner.
誰來抬棺?
是我，鳶說，
如果不走夜路，
我就會來抬棺。
Who’ll carry the coffin?
I, said the Kite,
If it’s not through the night,
I’ll carry the coffin.
誰來扶棺?
是我們，鷦鷯說，
還有公雞和母雞，
我們會來扶棺。
Who’ll bear the pall?
We, said the Wren,
Both the cock and the hen,
We’ll bear the pall.
誰來唱贊美詩?
畫眉說，是我，
她站在灌木叢上，
我將唱贊美詩。
Who’ll sing a psalm?
I, said the Thrush,
As she sat on a bush,
I’ll sing a psalm.
誰來敲喪鐘?
是我，牛說，
因?yàn)槲夷芾蟆?/p>
Who’ll toll the bell?
I, said the Bull,
Because I can pull,
所以，再會了，知更鳥。
空中所有的鳥，
全都嘆息哭泣
當(dāng)他們聽見喪鐘，
為可憐的知更鳥響起。
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.
