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Monday, 29 December 2014

The Rambler's Lament

The Rambler’s Lament

Now Christmas comes but once a year,
And thank the Lord for that.
The turkeys are becoming nervous,
And the geese are getting fat.

For we’ve been out in all the weathers,
Whilst walking on our rambles,
Working through the long grass & the nettles,
And, if we have to, cutting through the brambles.

We set off every Thursday morning,
No matter what the wind and rain,
To Westbrook, to Chittoe or to Rowde
Sometimes over stiles & sometimes down the lane.

There’s many routes that we’ve taken,
But you know it’s really hard to say,
Whether everywhere we’ve been this year,
Was on proper footpaths, or rights of way.

Past the sheep, the cows and pigs,
And some alpacas near the wood,
And by the time that we return to base,
Our boots are well covered up in mud.

But we’re only gone for a couple of hours:
Getting back, we’re very rarely late.
And as the last few straggle home,
You can hear the cry go up: “Shut The Gate!”

For we’ve beaten the parish boundaries,
And walked for about five miles round,
Whether turning to the left or to the right,
And now we’re all back at the Greyhound.

And Dennis is our fearless leader,
And over many a field we’ve crossed,
Trusting that he knows where he’s going,
And there’s no chance of us getting lost.

So as we sit here at our Christmas meal,
All feeling rather full,
Let’s be glad that we’re not crossing
A field that’s full of bull.


Copyright Andy Fawthrop 2014

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