Picnic By The River

On the grassy river bank,
We place our tartan rug upon the ground.
The gently flowing river and random birdsong, 
Are the only audible sounds.

We sit down on the rug and relax,
Basking in the glorious sunshine.
Then open our wicker picnic basket,
To reveal food and drink on which we’ll dine.

There’s plenty of food to for us all to share,
Including a gorgeous home-made savoury tart.
There’s also finger food and various fruits,
And, in no time at all, we all make a start.

We’ve brought a bottle of champagne,
For a special treat, for us all to drink.
I love to watch the tiny bubbles rise.
‘Cheers! ’ we exclaim, as, together, our glasses clink.

As we sit, a sudden movement catches my eye;
I see a fleeting flash of vivid bright blue.
To my joy, I realise it’s a kingfisher,
On the look out for his daily food.

Nearby, I spot some dragonflies,
Darting quickly here and there.
At their lovely, iridescent colours,
I can’t help but sit and stare.

There are many beautiful butterflies;
In the air, they dance round together.
They chase each other to and fro,
Coaxed out by this lovely weather.

A pair of swans swim serenely by;
Their feathers are as white as snow.
I marvel at their amazing majesty,
As I watch them onwardly go.

The river, as it gently flows,
Is a haven and a duck’s delight.
They seem happy and contented,
As they swim in the sunshine so bright.

As we sit there laughing and relaxing,
We’re cooled by a delicious breeze.
We don’t seem to have a care in the world.
Oh! How I adore days just like these!

Days like these are so very precious,
And they’re always such good fun.
I sit there reclining, lost in thought,
As I tuck in to a sticky Belgian Bun.

The afternoon draws to a close,
And we all pack our things away.
With the current run of glorious weather,
We’re bound to return on another day.

Angela Wybrow
Artist Lee Dubin