jillR Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 I found a little beetle; so that Beetle was his name, And I called him Alexander and he answered just the same. I put him in a match-box, and I kept him all the day ... And Nanny let my beetle out - Yes, Nanny let my beetle out - She went and let my beetle out - And Beetle ran away. She said she didn't mean it, and I never said she did, She said she wanted matches and she just took off the lid, She said that she was sorry, but it's difficult to catch An excited sort of beetle you've mistaken for a match. She said that she was sorry, and I really mustn't mind, As there's lots and lots of beetles which she's certain we could find, If we looked about the garden for the holes where beetles hid - And we'd get another match-box and write BEETLE on the lid. We went to all the places which a beetle might be near, And we made the sort of noises which a beetle likes to hear, And I saw a kind of something, and I gave a sort of shout: "A beetle-house and Alexander Beetle coming out!" It was Alexander Beetle I'm as certain as can be, And he had a sort of look as if he thought it must be Me, And he had a sort of look as if he thought he ought to say: "I'm very very sorry that I tried to run away." And Nanny's very sorry too for you-know-what-she-did, And she's writing ALEXANDER very blackly on the lid, So Nan and Me are friends, because it's difficult to catch An excited Alexander you've mistaken for a match. AA Milne... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwanR Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I learnt that poem as a child. I love poetry that has rhyme and rhythm rather than something that is more akin to a piece of prose. I think this one was in Now We Are Six which would have been the only AA Milne book I had as a child. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbo Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I always found poetry quite dull as a child...I think it was the way it was presented. In every story book I had, the thrills, spills and adventure would be interrupted by a page of sentimental waffle, aimed more at adults reading the book than the child to whom the book was being read. You see 'proper' poetry, to me, were poems recited by my Grandad. It's from him I developed a love of the absurd and a love of language..or should I say phrase. Over the years my Grandfather's poems have been mixed together with tales from other sources, jumbled around in my head, and are now delivered to my Granddaughter Gracie, who joins in on the last line...which after all this time, occasionally does not rhyme. The Mouse A mouse Went to a public house To fetch a pint of beer. "Where's your money?" "In my pocket!" "Where's your pocket?" "I forgot it!" "If you do not want to stay Sling your hook and go away!" Gracie's and my favourite is the Bug and the Flea. The last two lines are preceded by a mock gasp from Gracie as she clasps her hands over her mouth before she shouts out the lines and laughs like a drain. The Bug and the Flea A bug and a flea Went out to sea Upon a bobbin of cotton. The bug was lost! But the flea was found... Upon a ladies bottom! "A ladies bottom? Oh my tail and whiskers!" My Grandfather more than likely lifted the poems from elsewhere. I added the "Oh my tail and whiskers" from Squirrel Nutkin, I think. Of course when I became 'too old' for Granddad's recitations...he bought me a book of Spike Milligan poetry. My favourite of course being 'The Boy Stood on the Burning Deck', but 'Have a Nice Day' hit my macabre chuckle bone. Have a Nice Day 'Help, help, ' said a man. 'I'm drowning.' 'Hang on, ' said a man from the shore. 'Help, help, ' said the man. 'I'm not clowning.' 'Yes, I know, I heard you before. Be patient dear man who is drowning, You, see I've got a disease. I'm waiting for a Doctor J. Browning. So do be patient please.' 'How long, ' said the man who was drowning. 'Will it take for the Doc to arrive? ' 'Not very long, ' said the man with the disease. 'Till then try staying alive.' 'Very well, ' said the man who was drowning. 'I'll try and stay afloat. By reciting the poems of Browning And other things he wrote.' 'Help, help, ' said the man with the disease, 'I suddenly feel quite ill.' 'Keep calm.' said the man who was drowning, ' Breathe deeply and lie quite still.' 'Oh dear, ' said the man with the awful disease. 'I think I'm going to die.' 'Farewell, ' said the man who was drowning. Said the man with the disease, 'goodbye.' So the man who was drowning, drownded And the man with the disease past away. But apart from that, And a fire in my flat, It's been a very nice day. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauriceMynah Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 I think I've just visited Poets Coroner 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbo Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 6 minutes ago, MauriceMynah said: I think I've just visited Poets Coroner Twice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppy Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 10 hours ago, jillR said: I found a little beetle; so that Beetle was his name, And I called him Alexander and he answered just the same. I put him in a match-box, and I kept him all the day ... And Nanny let my beetle out - Yes, Nanny let my beetle out - She went and let my beetle out - And Beetle ran away. She said she didn't mean it, and I never said she did, She said she wanted matches and she just took off the lid, She said that she was sorry, but it's difficult to catch An excited sort of beetle you've mistaken for a match. She said that she was sorry, and I really mustn't mind, As there's lots and lots of beetles which she's certain we could find, If we looked about the garden for the holes where beetles hid - And we'd get another match-box and write BEETLE on the lid. We went to all the places which a beetle might be near, And we made the sort of noises which a beetle likes to hear, And I saw a kind of something, and I gave a sort of shout: "A beetle-house and Alexander Beetle coming out!" It was Alexander Beetle I'm as certain as can be, And he had a sort of look as if he thought it must be Me, And he had a sort of look as if he thought he ought to say: "I'm very very sorry that I tried to run away." And Nanny's very sorry too for you-know-what-she-did, And she's writing ALEXANDER very blackly on the lid, So Nan and Me are friends, because it's difficult to catch An excited Alexander you've mistaken for a match. AA Milne... Loved that song ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillR Posted March 31, 2016 Author Share Posted March 31, 2016 one of my favourite poets .... Marriott edgar The Battle Of Hastings I'll tell of the Battle of Hastings, As happened in days long gone by, When Duke William became King of England, And 'Arold got shot in the eye. It were this way - one day in October The Duke, who were always a toff Having no battles on at the moment, Had given his lads a day off. They'd all taken boats to go fishing, When some chap in t' Conqueror's ear Said 'Let's go and put breeze up the Saxons;' Said Bill - 'By gum, that's an idea.' Then turning around to his soldiers, He lifted his big Nonnan voice, Shouting - 'Hands up who's coming to England.' That was swank 'cos they hadn't no choice. They started away about tea-time - The sea was so calm and so still, And at quarter to ten the next morning They arrived at a place called Bexhill. King 'Arold came up as they landed - His face full of venom and 'ate - He said 'lf you've come for Regatta You've got here just six weeks too late.' At this William rose, cool but 'aughty, And said 'Give us none of your cheek; You'd best have your throne re-upholstered, I'll be wanting to use it next week.' When 'Arold heard this 'ere defiance, With rage he turned purple and blue, And shouted some rude words in Saxon, To which William answered - 'And you.' 'Twere a beautiful day for a battle; The Normans set off with a will, And when both sides was duly assembled, They tossed for the top of the hill. King 'Arold he won the advantage, On the hill-top he took up his stand, With his knaves and his cads all around him, On his 'orse with his 'awk in his 'and. The Normans had nowt in their favour, Their chance of a victory seemed small, For the slope of the field were against them, And the wind in their faces an' all. The kick-off were sharp at two-thirty, And soon as the whistle had went Both sides started banging each other 'Til the swineherds could hear them in Kent. The Saxons had best line of forwards, Well armed both with buckler and sword - But the Normans had best combination, And when half-time came neither had scored. So the Duke called his cohorts together And said - 'Let's pretend that we're beat, Once we get Saxons down on the level We'll cut off their means of retreat.' So they ran - and the Saxons ran after, Just exactly as William had planned, Leaving 'Arold alone on the hill-top On his 'orse with his 'awk in his 'and. When the Conqueror saw what had happened, A bow and an arrow he drew; He went right up to 'Arold and shot him. He were off-side, but what could they do? The Normans turned round in a fury, And gave back both parry and thrust, Till the fight were all over bar shouting, And you couldn't see Saxons for dust. And after the battle were over They found 'Arold so stately and grand, Sitting there with an eye-full of arrow On his 'orse with his 'awk in his 'and. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polly Posted April 2, 2016 Share Posted April 2, 2016 Yes a real favourite, as is Albert and 'Lion 'They didn't think much to the ocean, The waves they was fiddlin' and small, There were no wrecks and nobody drownded, Fact nothing to laugh at at all.' 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jillR Posted April 2, 2016 Author Share Posted April 2, 2016 I kindled my daughters interest in history by reading them Marriott edgars versions with the wonderful illustrations by john hassall 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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