Daddy Fell Into the Pond
by Alfred Noyes
"Everyone grumbled. The sky was grey.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.
We were nearing the end of a dismal day,
And then there seemed to be nothing beyond,
Then
Daddy fell into the pond!
And everyone's face grew merry and bright,
And Timothy danced for sheer delight.
"Give me the camera, quick, oh quick!
He's crawling out of the duckweed!" Click!
Then the gardener suddenly slapped his knee,
And doubled up, shaking silently,
And the ducks all quacked as if they were daft,
And it sounded as if the old drake laughed.
Oh, there wasn't a thing that didn't respond
When
Daddy Fell into the pond!"
Am I losing it? Every time I come across that little poem I remember how my boys used to chortle with childish glee each time that Her Ladyship would read it to them at bedtime.
Perhaps I'm just too visual.... On the other hand, if the sky had been cloudy and grey, and there did seem nothing beyond, maybe that family might have been very vulnerable to a witness a-preaching the good news!
Saved by Daddy falling into the pond. Happiness can be so simple.
Englishman.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be....