A child traveler meets a bald pig along a road

As I Went To Bonner

As I went to Bonner,
I met a pig
Without a wig,
Upon my word and honor.

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Posted in All Rhymes, Animals, Mother Goose Classics, Nonsensical, Travel & Places

Tagged Bonner, nonsense, pig, wig

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Meaning

This is a brief, whimsical nursery rhyme that plays with absurd imagery: meeting a pig “without a wig” on the way to Bonner (sometimes spelled Boner or Bonar in variant texts). The rhyme is nonsensical and lighthearted, meant to amuse children with its playful sound and impossible situation. The phrase “upon my word and honor” adds a mock-serious tone, as if affirming the unlikely tale, which enhances its humor.

Origin

First printed in 19th-century English nursery rhyme collections, “Bonner” may reference a place, though it’s most often used simply for the rhyme. The playful structure and comical animal motif are common to many Mother Goose rhymes.

Time Period

Found in Victorian-era and early 20th-century anthologies, including “The Real Mother Goose” (1916) and “The Little Mother Goose” (1912).

Why It Became Popular

Its silly, memorable lines and animal themes made it appealing for young children and a favorite in read-aloud sessions. The rhyme’s brevity also makes it easy to memorize and recite.

Structure and Style

Meter: Regular, short rhyme
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB or AABA
Line Count: Four lines
Style Notes: Nonsense rhyme, narrative

Themes

Absurdity and humor
Animals
Imaginative travel

Language Notes

Simple vocabulary, playful structure, and use of mild exaggeration (“without a wig,” “upon my word and honor”) create a mock-serious tone.

Moral or Lesson

No explicit moral; the rhyme celebrates whimsy and wordplay for their own sake.

Historical or Cultural Notes

Often found alongside similar short animal rhymes in classic English nursery collections; part of a tradition of whimsical, brief storytelling rhymes for children.

Notable Variants

Some versions begin with “Upon my word and honor, as I went to Bonner,” and the spelling of “Bonner” varies across editions.

Appearances in Media or Literature

Included in anthologies like “The Real Mother Goose,” “The Little Mother Goose,” and other classic nursery rhyme books and website.

Suggested Activities

Drama Play: Re-enact the meeting with a pig on a pretend journey.
Art: Draw fanciful versions of a pig “without a wig.”
Wordplay: Compose your own silly versions with different animals or destinations.

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As I Went To Bonner

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