We went on a family picnic and the sky was an azure dome,
Luckily Grandma wasn’t with us, she decided to stay at home.
The twins were there and little Ned
And Ma and Pa and Uncle Fred,
Marjorie with her black dog Rover
Who travelled all the way from Dover.
And Auntie Rose in a flowery hat and a basket full of cake
And her boy, Dave with his toothy grin who paddled in the lake.

The day was full of merriment we were such a happy throng
Until Dad suggested the boat trip, then it started to go wrong.
“Hold tight there, steady as she goes!” Pa informed his crew
But Auntie Rose was wobbling and disappeared from view.
With a mighty heave we dragged her into the boat again
But Mother dropped the oars and it began to pour with rain.
We floated on for hours ‘til the light began to dim,
We’d lost all hope of rescue so we tried to sing a hymn,
‘For those in Peril on the Deep’, while Uncle Fred dropped off to sleep.

Then a craft pulled up long side us, it was Grandma with flasks of tea
And a flash light, and loud hailer, and some lads from Pevensey.
So we had a happy ending and it was such a lark
We’re off to picnic next weekend but this time in the park!

© Carol Prior