ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

MARY’S LAMB

Young Mary had a little lamb – it’s true! I’ve heard it said.
It wasn’t coloured pink or green and neither was it red.
Its colour was a primary – a Payne’s grey kind of hue
Politically correct now, as artists will tell you.

Debate started over this sheep when my young niece came home
from kindy where she told us of these sheep that used to roam
over the verdant hillsides beneath azure skies – that’s blue.
The sheep were white and rainbow coloured – none were black, mind you.

I listened to her story and I marvelled at her words
then went to get a photograph of my merino herds
and showed her one picture I had, and proud of it I am
one much loved ewe called Girly and her jet black new born lamb.

The lamb whose name was Midnight was the only black sheep there,
she caused her share of problems, another story to share.
But sad to say the other sheep quite ostracized this mite
and some thought her a sheepdog and would run away in fright.

I showed my niece the photo and I told my niece the tale
One thousand prize merinos. One was black the rest were pale
but nowhere when I asked her could she see a rainbow sheep.
Perhaps because there are none Darl I whispered near her cheek.

Though rainbow sheep I do confess could perhaps set a trend
for spinning rainbow coloured wool would make nice stripes that wend
across the fabric delicately, a wandering random path
making each garment quite unique. Now that would be a laugh.

She’s only six, maybe the moral of the tale I told
was lost, but she went back to school quite confident and bold
to tell her teacher and the kids without once looking back;
that Mary’s lamb just like my Aunt’s was definitely black.

Maureen Clifford © 01/13

Very nice Mausie I remember a poem about Mary's lamb??/

mary had a little lamb
she kept it in a bucket !
and every time she took it out
The rooster ------- bugger can't remember the rest ???


Bob

Nice one Maureen. Here's one I remember from childhood.

Mary had a little lamb.
It's fleece was black as soot.
And everywhere that lamb would go
a sooty foot he put.


Bob, would you like me to remind you.

Wazza

I think it was a foot Wazza unless he had taken up golf

Ouch! That'll teach me to read over what I've written.
Wazza

Happens to the best of us