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  #71  
Unread 08-09-2021, 08:36 AM
John Isbell John Isbell is offline
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Hmm! Thanks Ann. That gives a whole new flavor to the Lewis Carroll song.

Cheers,
John
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  #72  
Unread 08-09-2021, 09:19 AM
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Ann Drysdale Ann Drysdale is online now
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I used that song as a template for a poem in praise of Spam. It won a prize in The Spectator.
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  #73  
Unread 08-09-2021, 09:27 AM
John Isbell John Isbell is offline
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Very nice! The tone of it sounds perfect for a Spam poem as well. There should be more Spam poems.

Cheers,
John
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  #74  
Unread 08-09-2021, 02:39 PM
F.F. Teague F.F. Teague is offline
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Congratulations, Ann :-)

This pleases and comforts me; a cousin's little girl is called Alice, which rather builds the connection in my mind <(:-)
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  #75  
Unread 08-17-2021, 03:00 PM
F.F. Teague F.F. Teague is offline
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Beau-a-oo-a-oo-a-oo-a-oo-a-oo ... -tiful sou-a-oo-a-oo-a- ... -oup :-) :>)

It's just occurred to me that Freshtival might as well have a little tea tent, supplying a range of soups, teas, coffees, cakes, and other baked goods. 'Yay!' :>)

☕️🍰

And here is my poem about dear Sir K., composed on his 25th birthday and revised a little this pm:


Sir K. Birthday

The year was 1990 and the month was mildest May;
one Sunday afternoon I started sewing dear Sir K.
I didn't know his name at first, but I so loved his look,
as on the cover of the How To Make Your Koala book.

He came in lots of pieces – head and limbs, then front and back,
and ears, one side all fluffy, beady eyes, a nose of black;
I fetched a needle from my crafts-box, found my dark brown thread,
put on the new Top 40, and began to make his head.

An hour whizzed by – the task complete, I placed him on my fist;
much work to come, according to the long instructions list,
but at this point I paused and laughed and laughed for quite a while,
for somehow I had given him the most infectious smile.

I went downstairs; my mum was out, my brothers up the hill,
but Dad was in the garage, doing something with a drill;
I sneaked up with my koala-head, and 'Arrrgh!' went Mr T.,
then chuckled, 'Hmm! He's pretty good!’, which felt high praise to me.

Then, 'Teatime!', called my mum, and so I ran to show her too;
she laughed as well, said he looked nice, asked what was next to do.
I thought I'd try his front, a hexagon of whitest white,
although the bros said, 'Leave him as a head; he'll be alright!'

An intermission then occurred, a busy week at school,
but Saturday I fixed the front and made a koala-ghoul;
he chased the brothers round the house, till Dad said, 'Right, that's it!'
and sent us to our rooms, where I resumed the koala kit.

I sewed another hour or so, and all fell into place –
the koala now had body, limbs, as well as head and face;
I tiptoed down the stairs with him, found Mum at kitchen sink,
and showed my work; she laughed so much, her face became all pink!

And Dad was playing Joplin as we brought his slice of toast;
he looked relieved that there'd be no more games of 'Koala Ghost',
then improvised on 'Maple Leaf' and Sir K. danced and cheered;
it seemed a brand new age had dawned, and it was good and weird.

💗💗💗

Sir K. is now 31 years old, and just a few months older than Arthur Arthritis. He remains a family favourite and has helped me through quite a lot of health problems over the years :-)
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  #76  
Unread 08-17-2021, 03:36 PM
John Isbell John Isbell is offline
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Good afternoon, Fliss and Coo (and Sir K),

I do believe it is just after tea-time here in the Central Time Zone. I shall rush out now to have a hunt for Mrs I's teddy, who is blue, though a lighter blue than my PJs.

That said, let me be the first to welcome Sir K to our impromptu gathering! He is a charming fellow, quite clearly, and his infectious smile has already worked its magic: I am completely infected! Your cheery poem was the perfect way to make his acquaintance, and so I thank you for it.

Cheers to the three of you,
John
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  #77  
Unread 08-17-2021, 03:56 PM
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Allen Tice Allen Tice is offline
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I greatly like your post #19 on the Interrobang, Ann.
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  #78  
Unread 08-17-2021, 05:10 PM
F.F. Teague F.F. Teague is offline
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Evening, John!

Any time is teatime at Freshtival, really. Inspired by Sarah-Jane's post on Insectageddon, I'm thinking all-day breakfasts and all sorts of little snacks too. Coo has a cookie for you 🍪

Have fun with Hunt the Teddy! Sir K is wearing a nifty little blue hoody at the moment, teemed with classic jeans. He looks very cool and thanks you for welcoming him to our gathering. There's an earlier photo of him here (you might recognise) and you're more than welcome for the poem.

Cheers to you,
Fliss, Sir K., Coo :>)
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  #79  
Unread 08-18-2021, 03:23 AM
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Ann Drysdale Ann Drysdale is online now
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Alexander Bear

I have a wondrous teddy bear, of monumental size,
with a round, protruding abdomen and little piggy eyes
and half a pair of trousers, and people stop and stare
when I go out a-walking with Alexander Bear.
He has a little jersey with a zip that shuts and opens
that he's been wearing since the days when clothing was on coupons.
His stuffing’s fast congealing and his shape is somewhat crude
and when you tip him upside-down the noise is rather rude,
so I tip him up in buses and I tip him up in trains
and everybody thinks it's me, so nobody complains.
His fur is non-existent and he’s really old and smelly
but without him I would be like two of eels without the jelly.
Whenever we have visitors my mother gets superior,
apologising right and left for him and his bacteria.
She says he’s unhygienic and she says he isn’t clean
and she says I ought to dump him ’cos I don’t know where he’s been.
She calls that valid reason, but it simply isn’t true –
wherever Alexander’s been, then I have been there too.
So we’ve reached a sort of stalemate, if you fathom what I’m saying –
“he goes,” I say, “and I go too.” So both of us are staying.
.

Last edited by Ann Drysdale; 08-18-2021 at 06:04 AM. Reason: a mere tweak.
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  #80  
Unread 08-18-2021, 07:26 AM
F.F. Teague F.F. Teague is offline
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Oh Ann. Thank you so much for posting this. It's a delight! Alexander Bear does indeed sound wondrous and I particularly like lines 7 and 8 ('crude' and 'rude', lol).

Dear John is taking some time away (I'm sure he won't mind my mentioning), but I'm hopeful he'll return with Mrs I's teddy in tow, whenever he feels ready to return.

In the meantime, here's one from my Metabear series. A metabear is a special teddy bear. Here, he is feeding the birds. 'Thank-coo!' :>)


Birdfeeding

When temperatures freeze
and frost grips the trees,
kind Metabear fears for his friends;
for though they have coats,
they sound mournful notes,
and so to their upkeep he tends, he tends;
and so to their upkeep he tends.

On rising each day,
he makes up a tray
of breakfast-time goodies to eat:
some nuts and some seeds,
to meet all birds' needs,
then fruitcake as special tea treat, tea treat;
then fruitcake as special tea treat.

The table is set!
Their appetites whet,
the feathery persons arrive;
with grateful glad zeal,
they peck at their meal,
and so through the winter survive, survive,
and so through the winter survive.

All puffed up and warm,
they start to perform,
a beautiful thanksgiving song:
'Praise be to the bear,
who shows us such care,
may his life be cherished ere long!, ere long!
May his life be cherished ere long!'

🐥🐥🐥
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