history of "ring around the rosie"

Corey taught something to me today from one of the books he is reading for a summer class he has on play therapy. I found this completely mind-boggling and undescribably creepy.

"In play, children learn games that are culturally and historically specific. These games may convey a great deal about society's values. Although "Ring Around the Rosie" has lost a lot of meaning over time, it once conveyed a powerful message to children.
Originally, the game was "Ring, a Ring, a Rosey", first played during the Black Plaque of the Middle Ages. It went as follows:

'Ring, A Ring A Rosey; A pocket full of posies; Achoo, Achoo; We all fall down.'

The poem describes the round red blotches that first appeared on those stricken with the plaque. Then the practice of stuffing the victims pockets with flowers to cover the smell of both the illness and death because quick burial was not possible, and finally the respiratory complications that caused the victim to fall down and die.
One can imagine a group of children surrounded by the certainty of death, playing a game, that if only in some bizzare way, helped to make death less frightening. "
the play therapy primer by kevin j. o'connor pg. 10