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) has a very serious job in publishing and enjoys writing poems during her playtime. Her poetry has appeared in a number of journals, including The HyperTexts, Snakeskin and The Ekphrastic Review. From 2014 to 2016, she was Poet-in-Residence of Happenstance Border Morris, a Morris dancing group in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. She also enjoys art, birdwatching, films, music and photography, and she loves guinea pigs!
