Thursday 26 April 2012

road less travelled



AnElephantCant say we’re great walkers
But we are a bit of a squeeze in a car
We are not built for a bike
So when we have to hike
We prefer a short stroll to going too far

A campaign by the Living Streets charity
Wants to get us all stretching our legs
We have to admit
We are not awfully fit
We don’t usually go further than Greggs

We quite like to meander or amble
We don’t often canter or trot
A leopard can lope
As can an antelope
But we assure you AnElephantCannot

When we go for a dauner or perambulation
We have to remember which roads we have crossed
We find one-way streets
Confuse some of our feet
We are embarrassed to admit we get lost

When our promenade leads to a bifurcation
We confess we can sometimes be baffled
We have a solution
To our state of confusion
We know the difference is to take the road less travelled

dauner – Scots for saunter
Greggs – a chain of retail bakers

http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/put-your-best-foot-forward-take-part-in-the-great-british-walking-challenge

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Queen's Park Sesquicentenary Year

AnElephantCant do poetic justice
To Glasgow’s Queen’s Park in the spring
The pond has tadpoles
And from the flagpole
We see flowers and hear the birds sing

 The park celebrates its sesquicentenary
This year with a host of events
A much loved space
This dear green place
Deserves to get millions of presents
 When it opened Abe Lincoln was president
Alice in Wonderland was being penned
Which just goes to show
It was a long time ago
The US Civil War was still far from its end

There are fewer dragons and mammoths in the trees now
Because my young leader will quite soon be seven
But laser beams and stun guns
Means we can still have fun
In the dens in the bushes in our heaven
Our sticks which once shot sabre-dino-dragons
Are re-commissioned with extraordinary functions
They have magical power
Making super baddies cower
While we blitz them without the slightest compunction

We play tennis and putting each Monday
Joints and bones are starting to creak
He climbs swings and larks
Around the play park
While this old dude feels like an antique
There are areas which are wild and unspoilt
Where we run free without any plan
We jump over logs
Sing Teddy Bear and Hound Dog
Yep my best friend is a cool Elvis fan
When I am puffed out we go to the rose gardens
Which commemorates some of Scotland’s great poets
While I try to relax
He plans more attacks
And we are off again before you know it

At the end of the day we get ice cream
That’s our reward for being good as gold
With a tub or a cone
We meander back home
Through Queen’s Park which is 150 years old


Tuesday 3 April 2012

Lochwinnoch Rocks


AnElephantCant always be poetic
He has not had much time to prepare this
But he feels it’s his duty
To display Scotland’s beauty
So sit back and relax while he shares this


The chairman* suggested a trip to Lochwinnoch
On a train from Glasgow Central Station
We may be prosaic
But we like this mosaic
A remarkably colourful tessellation


Lochwinnoch is a small country village
Twenty miles or so south-west of Glasgow
It sits on a loch
Which is not named Winnoch
The reason can be found in the past though


Castle Semple Loch is a Bird Sanctuary
Where the chairman is a Wildlife Explorer
An RSPB site
It inspires delight
And a great source of natural lore there


There are hides where you watch the birds feeding
If you’re not quick you click the perch they were on
Finch robin and tit
But just walk on a bit
And see a tall elegant patient Grey Heron


The types of birds there might number a million
Varied shapes different sizes and hues
When it all gets too much
Spotting mallards and such
AnElephant chills out and enjoys the great views


There are dipping ponds with nets provided
An illustrated chart to match what you catch
Water boatmen pond skaters
But no alligators
So AnElephant’s leg stays quite safely attached


There are fun things for elephants and their calves here
Play areas and cool woodland walks
Wildlife photographing
Treasure hunts lots of laughing
This Elephant Can tell you that Lochwinnoch rocks!



*The Elephant’s grandson, and the inspiration behind the books and so much more