Spring Baa-Baack!

Springing back in to action!

Oh, I do love this time of year. The days lengthen, flowers bloom, and, most importantly of all, I can get away with turning the heating off! Of course, as soon as I do that the Daily Snooze will announce “The Beast From The East!” is on it’s way. Well, I’d rather not think about bond-villain weather, thank you very much. Nope, instead, my thoughts turn to having to cut the grass for the first time and expecting this to bring on roughly six months of pollen allergies! Cheery soul, aren’t I?

Okay, okay, you’re probably wondering, “this article is a bit later than recent “efforts”. And you’d be right, and there’s a reason. It’s coming out late in March because I may not get time to do an article in April, so this one might have to fill the void until May. Somehow I don’t think this is devastating news.

Anyway, enough about me. What about you? What do I have for you this month? Well, the season got me thinking, what could I “spring” on you? When I’m stuck for ideas, I either draw inspiration from the classics such as Shakespeare, Joyce, and SpongeBob (okay, two out of three of these may be untrue). On this occasion, Wordsworth’s  “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” came to my aid as the images of golden daffodils conjures up a sense of spring. However, as a kid’s author I’m always going to write something lighter. So, the idea of Barney the lamb visiting a few places in Norfolk was born!

There was no particular science to which locations were mentioned in the poem. I could’ve included loads of fab places. Feel free to write an additional stanza of Barney visiting your favourite place in Norfolk!

 I’m sure NorfolkPlaces will add below a picture of a fluffy Norfolk-born lamb below (we did!) – Very cute.

I hope you enjoy the poem, and I’ll have to get my puzzler puzzling over the next article. Se you in May – possibly sooner!

Barney The Lamb – He’s full Of Spring!

Barney the lamb was happy as can be,
A springy spring spirit, born wild and free.
His world was new, the grass tasted sweet.
Sunshine warmed fleece, he bleated a happy bleat!

Yellow daffodils begin to bloom,
And snowdrops chased away winter’s gloom.
The harmonious hum of busy buzzing bees.
Allergies startled by pollen in the breeze.

The days grew longer, the nights grew light,
Spring’s rebirth brought quite a cute sight.
Chicks, calves, cubs, kids, kits, cygnets and more.
Plus Barney, the lamb with a need to explore!

“I’ll roam beyond my grass meadow,
To see some scenes and wonders rich.”
So he followed a babbling river’s flow,
Until he reached the city of Norwich.

There he skipped, baa-baaing, with a joyful bound.
First he admired the Canaries’ football ground.
But it wasn’t the yellow bird team he wished to see.
The real gem of the city, well, Norwich Castle be.

The medieval structure was certainly grand,
But now he wanted to place his hooves in sand!

So, to Hunstanton, where cliffs boldly stand.
Happy hoof marks in golden sand – as planned.
Cresting waves roll in while kite-surfers ride,
And young Barney watches the ebbing tide.

To Cromer next and its Victorian pier.
Dangled lines in the crabbing way here.

This grand structure, reaching out to the sea.
A peaceful spot, where this lamb could just be.
He watched families play on the beach either side,
And marvelled as gulls and gannets gracefully glide.

On next to the bright lights of Yarmouth’s front.
Where a donkey-riding-lamb could be the oddest stunt.

More golden sands to play with bucket and spade.
Under the strong sun he stayed and he played.
Along the promenade arcade lights flashed bright,
And stalls offered ice creams and candy floss to bite.

The coast was fun, but the light was fading fast.
So, home to his farm, via Dereham, as he tired at last.

He travelled back riding the Mid-Norfolk Railway train,
Which puffed through the fields of growing grain.
The steam rose to the sky, and the whistle blew.
Barney left the train, thinking of his mother ewe.

Tired lamb legs trotted home as night-time fell,
With tales of his journey he was desperate to tell.
Springtime is magic, and Norfolk’s so great.
But he really was tired, and the time was quite late.

His tale would wait for morning, for the sky to be bright.
He cuddled up next to mum and bleated, “goodnight!”