Wind Chill

SCENIC SUNDAY
http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

WIND CHILL

A place to park the car when the breeze has got a bite,

And Winter can give way to Spring, at least through the power of sight!

Looking at the ocean which is temptingly in reach,

Looking at the waves that break upon the golden beach,

One could think it that was summer but we would be quite wrong!

Still the warmth will soon be with us; we just hope it wont be long!

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MUD BATH!

In the dimness of antiquity, there lived a handsome Prince,

Whose name has been revered and praised by all men, ever since.

Bladud was the young man's name; he knew his destiny

Was to rule his nation; to this end he studied constantly.

In search of learning he went forth and finally came to Greece,

Where he hoped to learn the ways of truth and dignity and peace.

But, sad to say, in Athens, he contracted leprosy

And a sad, disfigured Prince returned to face his family.

'You cannot rule' his father said 'You'd bring our family shame!

Flee somewhere far away, my son! Don't besmirch our regal name!'

His mother wept at her poor son's plight, and handed him a ring.

'Keep this safe as a gift from me while you are wandering.'

So the sad Prince left as a peasant, with neither hearth nor home,

Disfigured by his leprosy and destined the earth to roam.

'I must work to live' said Bladud 'Since no royal crown is mine.

I'll live as so many peasants do, herding the humble swine.'

So, for many years, he herded pigs across the countryside

Until, at last, they sickened too and many of them died.

He must have been a sorry sight, his remaining pigs were few,

And he was covered in lesions! What was a man to do?

But suddenly a pig went wild and galloped off until

It came to a pond of thick black mud, at the bottom of the hill.

It jumped right in and almost sank; it was in it to the snout!

So Bladud clambered in as well. He must get the creature out!

The rescue took a while, of course, as the animal thrashed and squealed,

But when it staggered to the bank, its leprosy was healed!

So Bladud wallowed in the mud, constantly, day by day,

Till his leprosy finally disappeared in a miraculous way.

Then back to his parents he returned, an older man, it's true,

But he showed his mother's golden ring, so everybody knew

That he was the rightful future king. And he quickly made it known

That his saviour had been a humble pig, one animal, on its own.

So Bladud founded a city, where healing waters run,

And he ruled in Bath for twenty years as his father's rightful son.

He governed with honesty and wit; his edicts all were sound

But he never forgot the lowly pig who'd turned his fortunes round.

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