Blown Away
by Nadine Cranenburgh
I’ll tell you where I’ve been
I don’t think you’ll believe it
It started with a leaf
And me running to retrieve it
It fluttered through the rain
And over lots of puddles
So when I caught it up
I was soaked and in a muddle
It settled down at last
Upon a rotten jetty
I reached for it with hands
That were colder than a Yeti’s
That leaf was almost mine
I stretched out with a sigh
But then it blew away
To a dingy tied nearby
A sudden gale-force gust
Sent us sailing through the ocean
I clung on like a limpet
Feeling seasick from the motion
The wind dropped, I was lost
With no clue of north or south
Right then the leaf bobbed gently
Through a great whale’s gaping mouth
Surprisingly I followed
What else was there to do?
But leaves give whales an itchy throat
So skywards we both flew
I splashed into the sea
And heard a rotor spinning
A helicopter scooped
Another ride beginning!
I madly treaded water
Determined not to drown
We flew above a fire
And the helo tipped us down
I landed fairly softly
Upon a smoky shore
Close by the burned-out jetty
Where the dingy was before
A seagull grabbed the leaf
Flapped through the ashes squawking
My leaf was gone for good
So back home I started walking
That’s why I’m late for tea
It’s true, just like I said
What’s this, a leafy salad?
I might just go to bed.