Riversolde




Gently flows the river
on its way down to the sea

past the wondering fishermen
who wait upon the lea.

Under the darkening bridge
and out into the light

gently flows the river
fleet and clear and bright.




Sparkles on the ripples
radiance of the sun

shining on the surface
and through - where it has gone?

Following the sunbeams
wrapt in rays of gold

we come down into the water
in our dream of Riversolde.

‘Welcome to Riversolde’
says Simon Stickleback.

There is Simon - small and spiky
shiny pink and blue and black.

His golden eyes look up
to greet us with a smile

and he says, ‘I have a tale to tell
if you can stay a while’.




“One time big Peter Pike
snapped me up into his mouth

but my back is so stickly
that he had to spit me out!

Peter gulped and looked abashed
and said, ‘I'm so sorry little chap!’

So I stopped among the weeds with him
to have a fishy chat.

A tear in Peter's eye, he said
‘Truth is, I'm growing old

most days I just go hungry
and I feel so very cold…….’

Thinking of my kindly friends
I said ‘don’t be so woe begone!

Don’t you worry – just wait here
and I shall see what can be done!’




So off I swam and in a flash
I told Professor Tench my wish

and he at once proceeded
to call a meeting of the fish.

Tilly Trout and Captain Carp
and Bridget Bream appeared

and many other friendly fish
all curiously swam near.

We gathered at the circle stone
upon the rocky river plain

even elusive Eliza Eel
and Mickey Minnow came.




I took the stage and speedily
explained the situation

saying, ‘We can help old Peter Pike
with some quick co-operation…..’

Tilly Trout was first to speak;
‘With the help of my small fry

I’ll knit him a lovely jumper
once I've measured him for size…..’

Then she paused, and said, ‘but
is it not so, that for big Mr Pike

to eat us for breakfast
is what he would really like?’




‘Why yes!’ said Thomas Tench
‘Reassurance is what we need

before we set ourselves this task….’
and all the other fish agreed.

And so I explained ardently
‘I’ve the greatest faith in Pete -

he's my friend - and on my life
he’ll not take us to eat!’

‘Well, since we have your promise’
Professor Thom observed

‘then we should help - is everyone
satisfied with what they’ve heard?’

This met with general assent –
Tilly smiled and nodded her head

so Captain Carp outlined a plan
and then it was time for bed.




Next morning bright and early
before the fishermen arrived

Madame Bridget Bream was teaching
the young ones by her side.

Said she, ‘We fishes have a trick
of slipping bait off the hook….

…this task is dangerous my dears
so here’s a drawing – have a look!’

Bridget taught them very well
to mind the fisherman's spike

and the quick and clever little fish
soon gathered food for Mr. Pike.




Meanwhile, Tilly Trout had knitted
a jumper of softest weed

and when Peter put it on
he said, ‘Ah! This is just what I need!

Thank you, thank you, all my friends
thank you for being so kind

for giving me warmth and food and rest
for giving me some time…..’




But all was not well, for suddenly
and with a deadly swirl

into the pure clear water
a poison began to curl.

We fishes fled as smoky clouds
stung our eyes and choked our gills

but it seemed that we could not escape
the minnows wailed, ‘we’ll all be killed!’

But Peter swirled up from the depths
- long life had made him wise

and he called out, ‘head upstream!
Above where the poison lies!’

And as we swam I saw rusty tank
dumped at the water's edge -

through my pain I saw it leaking
into the rushes and sedge.




‘Look Pete!’ I cried, and he fiercely
grabbed a stick of wood

and SWISH! He swam up to the tank
as fast as ever he could.

Then with the stick held in his jaws
Peter hit the tank with a BANG!

He hit it ’til it rang like a bell
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

The fishermen quickly left their rods
to come and answer the alarm

and so it was they found the tank
and the leak that did such harm.

Pete and I were now up river
in the clean water above the tank

and overjoyed we watched the men
heave it well up onto the bank.

Soon after this, a truck was sent
which took the old tank away

- but the fishermen still wonder
about what happened on that day.




I still had sore eyes and gills
but now it was safe to go back

‘All clear!’ I cried, and there were cheers
and hugs and high tail claps.

Said I, ‘It's really thanks to Pete
there wasn’t much that I could do…..’

‘but Simon,’ said the beaming Pike
‘I couldn't have done it without you!’

Then Peter said to everyone
‘…..now I must be on my way

but with luck we will meet again
I wish you good nights and good days…’




‘You’ll always be welcome
to come and stay’ said Tilly Trout

and me, I opened up my mouth
but for once no words came out.

'Though Riversolde was safe again
and our troubles now were past

I knew that I would miss my chum
when he went away at last.

It was then I had a notion
which I knew at once was grand

‘So - if we're in the mood to celebrate’
I said, ‘let's call the goldfish band!’

Let’s spread the word to everyone
- well bless my prickly spines!

Swing your fins and shake your tails
because it's party time!’

And so we danced all through the night
until the morning came

and then we had a little rest
and then we danced again.




Then Peter said he really had to go
and bade us all farewell,

and I swam with him to the river's bend
where we heard a distant knell.

‘Good bye, my friend’ said Peter
‘We will not forget this time’

‘Goodbye’ says I, ‘and to be sure,
I shall record it in a rhyme…..’

Pausing as he headed off downstream
Pete called back mysteriously,

‘Look out for me when the moon is full…’
‘…and spring rain is in the weeds’.

But whenever my spirit rises up
climbing a sunbeam into the air

I imagine that I see us down below
and peacefully swimming there.”




Gently flows the river
on its way down to the sea

past the wondering fishermen
who wait upon the lea.

Under the darkening bridge
And out into the light

gently flows the river
fleet and clear and bright.