Not the Danube

                                       Cockle Creek Australia

BLUE MONDAY

NOT THE DANUBE

I saw the Danube one fine day

When I chanced to be on a holiday.

Dreams of romance were in my mind;

Who knew what I would chance to find

Strolling along by the river-side

Blue and sparkling, clear and wide?

'The Blue Danube' echoed in my heart

And strains of Strauss began to start.

I knew that I'd be swept away

To another age, another day.

*

Now, maybe the dull day was to blame,

But the river did not live up to its name.

I apologise to my Austrian friends

But I feel that they should make amends.

All that publicity led me to

A river which was quite un-blue!

Donkey-brown and not a glimmer

Of sparkles that could have made it shimmer!

Strauss cancelled his concert in my brain

When he saw the Danube was under rain.

*

Now, please take note of the illustration

With which I began this conversation.

Here is a river that makes no claim

To having a world-wide remembered name.

Here is a modest little stream

That meanders on and would never dream

Of dabbling in publicity

Or of being more than it's meant to be.

Behold the Blue River of which I speak.

Here, on the map, is Cockle Creek!

*

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QUID PRO QUO

(An Acrostic)

Questions arise about this phrase!

Unless they’re answered I’m in a daze!

Is the meaning 'tit-for-tat'?

'Do this for me and I’ll do that?'

*

Perhaps the Latin suits it better

Revealing the meaning in each letter.

Or do we use Latin just to be clever?

*

Queries just go on for ever.

Useless to explain the reason

Out goes Latin till next season!

*