Picnic in Autumn
Upon the banks of Lower Lake,
let’s sit and have a treat for tea,
beside the yellow willow brake.
What shall we eat? A slice of cake?
A flapjack? Scone? Perhaps all three,
upon the banks of Lower Lake.
“Quack-quack!” Look, it’s a mallard drake!
He’s waddling by the chestnut tree
beside the yellow willow brake.
A squirrel, see! She’s wide awake,
her brown eyes blinking beadily
upon the banks of Lower Lake.
The water’s rippling – like a snake! –
as swans slide in and snort with glee
beside the yellow willow brake.
They’re washing... now they rise and shake!
A happy wave for you and me,
upon the banks of Lower Lake
beside the yellow willow brake.
let’s sit and have a treat for tea,
beside the yellow willow brake.
What shall we eat? A slice of cake?
A flapjack? Scone? Perhaps all three,
upon the banks of Lower Lake.
“Quack-quack!” Look, it’s a mallard drake!
He’s waddling by the chestnut tree
beside the yellow willow brake.
A squirrel, see! She’s wide awake,
her brown eyes blinking beadily
upon the banks of Lower Lake.
The water’s rippling – like a snake! –
as swans slide in and snort with glee
beside the yellow willow brake.
They’re washing... now they rise and shake!
A happy wave for you and me,
upon the banks of Lower Lake
beside the yellow willow brake.
This poem is copyright (©) Felicity Teague 2024
About the Writer
Felicity Teague
Felicity Teague (Fliss for short) lives in Cheltenham, not far from Pittville Park and its wonderful wildlife. She has lived with autoimmune arthritis for over thirty years, yet she is able to work in publishing and enjoys writing poems during her playtime. Her poetry has appeared in a number of journals and she has published a first collection, From Pittville to Paradise. She also enjoys art, birdwatching, films, music, and photography, and she loves guinea pigs!
