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

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

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