Delphiniums (blue)...

[fajrdrako]

I've always loved A.A. Milne's writing, and the other day I was trying to remember one of his poems.

The subject came up because of some blue flowers growing in the garden of the house across the street. maaseru noticed them, and asked me if I knew what they were. I didn't, and we agreed (as we often do) that Beulah would know. They were extremely beautiful, a very rich dark blue.

So when Beulah drove me home the next day, I told her I wanted to show her a flower across the street, and we went across so she could see the lovely flowers. She went up on their front walk to get a closer view. There were two women talking in the laneway next door. One of them said, "Can we help you?" It was her garden we were peering at.

She told us they were delphiniums. She and Beulah talked garden-talk for a bit.



This brought to mind a poem I once memorized and loved: The Dormouse and the Doctor by A.A. Milne. Sounds like a Doctor Who/Alice in Wonderland crossover, doesn't it? But it isn't.



There once was a Dormouse who lived in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And all day long he'd a wonderful view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

A Doctor came hurrying round, and he said:
"Tut-tut, I am sorry to find you in bed.
Just say 'Ninety-nine', while I look at your chest ...
Don't you find that chrysanthemums answer the best?"

The Dormouse looked round at the view and replied
(When he'd said "Ninety-nine") that he'd tried and he'd tried,
And much the most answering things that he knew
Were geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue).

The Doctor stood frowning and shaking his head,
And he took up his shiny silk hat as he said:
"What the patient requires is a change," and he went
To see some Chrysanthemum people in Kent.

The Dormouse lay there, and he gazed at the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue),
And he knew there was nothing he wanted instead
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

The Doctor came back, and to show what he meant,
He had brought some chrysanthemum cuttings from Kent.
"Now these", he remarked, "give a much better view
Than geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)."

They took out their spades and they dug up the bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red),
And they planted chrysanthemums (yellow and white)
"And now," said the Doctor, "we'll soon have you right."

The Dormouse looked out, and he said with a sigh:
"I suppose these people know better than I.
It was silly, perhaps, but I did like the view
Of geraniums (red) and delphiniums (blue)."

The Doctor came round and examined his chest,
And ordered him Nourishment, Tonic and Rest.
"How very effective," he said as he shook
The thermometer, "all these chrysanthemums look!"

The Dormouse turned over to shut out the sight
Of the endless chrysanthemums (yellow and white).
"How lovely," he thought, "to be back in a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

The Doctor said "Tut! It's another attack!"
And ordered him Milk and Massage-of-the-back,
And Freedom-from-worry and Drives-in-a-car,
And murmured, "How sweet your chrysanthemums are!"

The Dormouse lay there with his paws to his eyes,
And imagined himself such a pleasant surprise:
"I'll pretend the chrysanthemums turn to a bed
Of delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

The Doctor next morning was rubbing his hands,
And saying, "There's nobody quite understands
These cases as I do! The cure has begun!
How fresh the chrysanthemums look in the sun!"

The Dormouse lay happy, his eyes were so tight
He could see no chrysanthemums, yellow or white.
And all that he felt at the back of his head
Were delphiniums (blue) and geraniums (red).

And that is the reason (Aunt Emily said)
If a Dormouse gets in a chrysanthemum bed,
You will find (so Aunt Emily says) that he lies
Fast asleep on his front with his paws to his eyes.