ID: 172
Date: 1930s - 2006
Title: Inky, pinky, ponky
Gender: Male and Female 
Classification: Counting-out 
Rhyme: 

Inky, pinky, ponky, 
Daddy bought a donkey.
Donkey died, daddy cried, 
Inky, pinky, ponky.

(Christchurch, 1960s; Wairoa, 1960s; NZ ex UK 1960s; Putaruru, 1970s; Whanganui,1970s; Auckland, 1980s; Palmerston, 1990s; Auckland, 1990s x 3; Thames, 1990s; Awanui, 1990s; Whakatane, 1990s; Napier, 1990s; Hawarden, 1900s; Lower Hutt, 1990s; Whangarei, 2000; Christchurch, 2000 x 6; Rotorua, 2000 x 2; Tauranga, 2000 x 3; Timaru, 2000 x 3; Nelson, 2001; Auckland, 2001 x 5; Wellington, 2002 x 4; Owaka, 2003; Kaiapoi, 2003;  NZ ex UK, 2004; Christchurch, 2004; Ashburton, 2006)

--

Inky, pinky, ponky, 
Daddy caught a donkey.
Donkey died, daddy cried, 
Inky, pinky, ponky.

(Karaka, 1990s)

--

Inky, dinky, ponky, 
Daddy bought a donkey.
Donkey died, daddy cried, 
Inky, dinky, ponky.

(Timaru, 2005)

--

Inky, dinky, ponky, 
Daddy bought a donkey.
Donkey died, daddy cried, 
Inky, dinky, ponky.
My mother said to pick this one. (Cos the captain said so.)

(Upper Hutt, 1970s; Taradale, 1970s)

--

Inky, pinky, ponky, 
Daddy caught a donkey.
Both died, no one cried, 
Inky, pinky, ponky.

(Auckland, 2004)

--

Inky, pinky, ponky, 
Daddy fucked a donkey.
Donkey died, daddy cried, 
Inky, pinky, ponky.

(Christchurch, 1990s)

--

Inky, pinky, panky, 
Daddy bought a hanky
Hanky tore, Daddy swore,
Inky, pinky, panky.

(Thames, 1990s; Greymouth, 1990s; Hawarden, 1996)

--

Inky, dinky, ponky, 
Daddy bought a donkey.
Donkey died, daddy cried, 
Inky, dinky, ponky.
My mother said to count to ten, 1,2,3..

(Lumsden, 2003)

--

Inky, stinky, stonky, 
Daddy bought a donkey.
Donkey died, daddy cried, 
Inky, stinky, stonky.

(Auckland, 1960s)

--
 
Background Info: Alternative versions in Turner,1978:4:

Inky pinky panky,
Daddy bought a hanky.
Hanky ripped, Daddy stripped,
Inky pinky panky.

(Melbourne, 1973)

Donkey farted, Daddy darted..
Hanky tore, Mummy swore..
Hanky slipped, Mummy flipped…

(Melbourne, 1973)

==

Comment in Factor, 1988:1, regarding political commentary on the demise of Prime Minister Fraser in the 1980s, Australia.

Inky pinky ponky
Fraser bought a donkey,
Donkey died,
Fraser cried,
Inky pinky ponky.

==

Also used as a ball-bouncing game (2000)

==
 
Keywords: death, bawdy 
Location: Various NZ, UK 
Group size: 3 
Incidence: 57