Swirl

Brenda Bryant

FOR WATERY WEDNESDAY

SWIRL

Only a city fountain,

When all is said and done,

But water, when we release it,

Always has a lot of fun.

It swirls and whirls and swishes

And gurgles a goodbye

Enchanting water-watchers

When they're passing by.

*

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Engelmann's Ivy

NAUGHTY MR ENGELMANN

Who was Mr Engelmann

And why do I enquire ?

And why the picture of a vine

Seemingly set on fire?

I call it Virginia Creeper

A really lovely name,

So why do the folk in Canada

Not call it the same?

Here in Australia it glows

On many a garden wall,

And it's called Virginia Creeper,

Not 'Engelmann' at all!

I have my suspicions

About Mr Engelmann,

I think he was a gardener

With a really crafty plan.

I think he went to Mexico

And saw this lovely plant

And uttered  his own equivalent*

Of  'Well, my sainted aunt!

I'll take this back to Canada

And sell it as something new.

Then people will flock to my nursery!

Yes! That's what I'll do!'

So that craft Mr Engelmann

Announced his novelty

And the people of Saskatchewan

Said 'Wow! That is for me!

You're so clever, Mr Engelmann,

That we'll give the plant your name

For if that were forgotten

It would really be a shame!'

Now his name's on each Canadian tongue;

He's lauded far and wide.

(I'm not much good at History,

But at least I really tried!)

* In French.

*

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PS

The Merry Mellows performed at a Xmas Party on Wednesday this week. We performed a new play.......you may have heard of it........'Snow-White'!  I'd written new parodies to Xmas songs to give it a seasonal air.

Snow-White was a little precious. Here she says 'What! Moi!'

Bebe was the tallest dwarf we'd ever seen. She'd gone to great trouble with her costume too.

But isn't Pam the cruelest-looking Wicked Queen ! And she's such a nice person too!

Of course there had to be a love-scene!

And here we are for the final line-up with me looking smug on the right.