My "bloggie" friend "Jellyhead's" recent post reminded me of long ago and far away, back when I was a child. We don't recall these times near enough. My dad died when I was 23, a long time ago. I didn't have near enough time with him. I am, however, blessed with many childhood memories. Dad used to read to us every night at bedtime. He like poetry, and we would always ask for "Casey at the Bat", a baseball poem that my brother loved. My favorite was the "Owl and the Pussycat". After all this time, I think I can still remember it. It goes something like this:
The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea
in a beautiful pea green boat.
They took some honey and plenty of money
wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above and sang to a small guitar,
"Oh lovely Pussy, Oh Pussy my love, what a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, what a beautiful Pussy you are!"
Said Puss to the Owl, "You elegant fowl,
how charmingly sweet you sing,
oh let us be married, too long we have tarried,
but what shall we do for a ring?".
So they sailed away for a year and a day to the land where the bong trees grow,
and there in the wood, a piggy-wig stood,
with a ring on the end of his nose -his nose-
with a ring on the end of his nose.
Said Owl to the pig, "Are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?" Said the piggy, "I will!"
So they took it away and were married next day
by the turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mints, and slices of quints,
which they ate with a runcible spoon.
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
they danced by the light of the moon -the moon-
they danced by the light of the moon!
That was from memory, so I hope I remembered it all, forty years is a long time ago.
3 comments:
One of the poems I used to read to my children.
(note: quince)
It's great that this is one of the poems you remember most fondly. I'm sure there are more. I'm also sure you read to your son also as he was growing up. He's kinda big now and probably wouldn't appreciate mom reading to him. But, I can guarantee that he remembers you reading to him as he was growing up.
Thanks to you and Jelly for reminding us of all the lovely poems and songs, and of our own children when they were small.
I know this poem, too... a lovely poem, and a lovely post, Tuff.
I bet your father would be so thrilled to know that you remember this poem, and that you recall, with such fondness, him reading it to you.
That's so sweet that you remember your father reading to you. I don't remember anyone reading or singing to me at bedtime...
I do remember reading a book each night to my kids at bedtime...sometimes two or three books.
I never really thought that I missed anything as a child, but after reading all these blogs I can see that I missed a lot.
Post a Comment