Poems *

Redwall

Riddle



Knows nought at all.

I - am that is,

Two mice within Redwall.

The Warrior sleeps

Twixt Hall and Cavern Hole.

I - am that is,

Take on my mighty role.

Look for the sword

In moonlight streaming forth,

At night, when days first hour

Reflects the North.

From oer the threshold

Seek and you will see;

I - am that is,

My sword will wield for me.



Mossflower Riddle Twixt earth and sky where birds can fly,

I look below and see

A place of wood with plumage green

That breezes move like sea.

Behind me as the dawn breaks clear,

Woodpidgeons come awake,

See brown dust roll, twixt green and gold,

Unwinding like a snake.

So fly and sing, the wildgoose is King.

Oer golden acres far below,

Our wings beat strong and true,

Where deep and wet, see flowing yet,

Another snake of blue.

Across the earth is changing shape,

With form and color deep,

Afar the teeth of land rise up,

To bite the wool of sheep.

So fly and sing, the wildgoose is King.

Beyond this, much is lost in mist,

But here and there I see

The treachery of muddy gray,

Tis no place for the free.

O feathered brethren of the air,

Fly straight and do not fall,

Onward cross the wet gold flat,

Where seabirds wheel and call,

So fly and sing, the wildgoose is King.

The skies are growing darker, see

Our beacon shining bright.

Go high across the single fang

That burns into the night.

We leave you now as we wing on,

Our journey then must be

Where sky and water meet in line,

And suns drown in the sea.

So fly and sing, the wildgoose is King.

Who says that I am deadKnows nought at all.I - am that is,Two mice within Redwall.The Warrior sleepsTwixt Hall and Cavern Hole.I - am that is,Take on my mighty role.Look for the swordIn moonlight streaming forth,At night, when days first hourReflects the North.From oer the thresholdSeek and you will see;I - am that is,My sword will wield for me. Riddle Boar is badger, named after wood,

Not after forest but trees.

Where did you play on a rainy day?

Where did I eat bread and cheese?

Search inside, stay indoors,

Look up and find the secret is yours.

Your castle your fort,

Or so you thought.

The way is in four trees.

The way is in Boar and Brockhall

Under ale, under bread, under cheese.

Gonff "The Prince of Mousethieves honors you,

To visit here this day.

So keep your larder door shut tight,

Lock all your food away.

O foolish ones, go check your store

Of food so rich and fine.

Be sure that I'll be back for more,

Especially this wine."

"Oh fight, lads, fight,

Scratch, lads, bite,

Gonff will dine on cheese and wine,

When he gets home tonight."

"Across the lea, beneath the leaves,

When countrylands wake up to spring,

Hurrah here comes the Prince of Thieves,

Hear every small bird sing.

So daring and so handsome too,

He makes a wondrous sight,

But if he comes to visit you,

Lock your treasures up tight."

"Cuckoo, Cuckoo, good day, my friend, to you.

O sly one you know best.

To lay in others' nest,

Is a trick you often do.

But I am smarter, sir, than you,

Cuckoo, my friend, cuckoo."

"I knew a mouse in prison here,

More than a hundred years.

His whiskers grew along the ground,

And right back to his ears.

His eyes grew dim, his teeth fell out,

His fur went silver grey.

'If my grandad were here,' he said,

'I wonder what he'd say?'"

"Pickalock pickalock, you'll regret the day,

When you took a mousethief and locked him away.

Sillycat, look at that, it's two for one,

The thief and the warrior

By dawn will be gone."

"I'm a mouse with a very long tail,

With a heart and voice to match.

I've escaped from the pussycats gaol.

They'll find me hard to catch.

So, away, through the grass, the flow'rs and leaves,

Like smoke on the breeze, the Prince of Thieves.

Let's cheer for the day when we will see

The Mossflower country safe and free."

"Squirrels, otters, hedgehogs, mice,

Moles with fur like sable,

Gathered in good spirits all,

Round this festive table.

Sit we down to eat and drink.

Friends, before we do, let's think.

Fruit of forest, field and banks,

To the springtime we give thanks."

"A questing-o the friends did go,

Companions brave and bold,

O'er forest, field and flowing stream,

Cross mountains high and old.

These brave young creatures journeying

Along the road together,

While birds did sing throughout the spring,

Into the summer weather." "Goodbye, Columbine.

Now your path and mine

Must part in the woods of Mossflow'r.

Keep a lookout this day,

For I'll be back this way,

In the noontide or cool evening hour."

"Sala-manda-stron, look out, here we come,

A thief, a warrior, and a mole.

Though the quest may take its toll,

We'll march until we meet our goal,

Sala-manda-stron."

"Sala-manda-stron,

Look where we've come from,

Three of Mossflower's best,

Marching out upon our quest:

Sala-manda-stron."

"A weasel, ferret and a stoat,

Found a pond but had no boat.

Now they can't see the waters from

The inside of a swan."

"O the day is fair and blue,

The mountains lie ahead.

Companions good and true,

Our enemies are dead.

I'm longing for the day,

O, for that happy time,

When I'll return to say,

Sweet Columbine, you're mine."

"O for the life of a sailormouse,

It's better than Kotir gaol,

A rest for the weary traveling paws,

With the wind to drive our sail.

There's a shrew for skipper

Two mice for mates,

And a mole for a cabin boy.

When we sight Salamandastron,

We'll shout out loud, Ahoy!"

"It'll be great, I'll watch you, mate,

And you can dive right in.

But don't sing with your mouth full,

"This pie is all for Din."

A crust as light as thistledown,

And filled with all you dream:

Fresh vegetables, the best of fruit,

All floating round in cream."

"I musn't drink the water,

And there may be nought to eat.

Those gulls may see a mousethief,

As just a tasty treat.

I step out bravely on the quest,

Across this funny land,

And when I dissappear they'll say,

'He's found the sinking sand.'"

"Always the tide comes flowing in.

Ever it goes out again.

Sleep 'neath the shore evermore,

Free from hunger and pain.

Morning light will bring the sun;

Seasons go rolling on.

Questing ever far from home,

For Salamandastron."

"Harebell, Honeydew and Willow,

Each a pretty young thing;

Brave, bold and fearless,

Wother, Trubbs and Ffring;

Lupin, Buffheart, Starbuck, Breeze,

Swift as winds across the trees;

Rule o'er land and sea herefrom,

Sala-manda-stron."

"O the Wuddship is a goodship,

And we'll sail her anywhere,

Rowed by mice, crewed by shrews,

And often steered by hare.

So hoist the anchor, loose the sails,

Give me a wind that never fails,

And we'll sail the goodship Wuddship,

From here to old Brockhall."

"Let no foulbeast give one command,

I'll say,'O no not me,

My back bends to no tyrant's rule.

Hey friends, this mouse is free.'

Free has a sound, it rings around,

A lovely way to be.

So dance or sing, do anything,

You're free free free free freeeeeeeeee!" Mattimeo Riddle "Those who wish to challenge fate,

to a jumbled shout walk strait.

Sunset fires in dexteree,

Find where Loamhedge used to be.

At the high place near the skies,

Look for other watchful eyes.

Sleep not neath the darkpine trees,

Be on your guard, take not your ease.

Voyage when the daylight dims,

Danger in the water swims.

Make no sound with spear or sword,

Lest you wake the Longtail Horde

Shades of creatures who have died,

Bones of warriors who have tried.

Shrink not from the barren land,

Look below from where you stand.

This is where a stone may fall and make no sound at all.

Those who cross and live to tell,

See the badger and the bell.

Face the lord who points the way,

After noon on summers day,

Death will open up its grave.

Who goes there...? None but the brave."

Rollo Fight a flagon an drink a dragon,

Gizzard a lizard an split his blizzard,

Ride a spider for good ol cider,

Goooooood ooooooooold ciderrrrrrrrrr! Id roll a mole an sqeeze a sparrow,

Or shoot a rat wiv a big sharp arrow,

For good ol bla-ha-ha-hack currant wiiiiiiiiiine! Seeker flounder inner stones,

I catch a rat an break his bones,

Give Mr. Spike a good hard strike,

For good ol strawhawhaw beherreeee corjullllllllllllll! I wrestle a fish upon a dish,

Cut off is his ead while hes in bed,

An take a rat an make him dead,

For goooooooood oooooooooooold cideeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr! Kill a bird wivout a word,

Hit a black rook wiv a heavy book,

Bang a crow an make him go,

For strawhawhaw beherry corjullllllllllllllllllllllllll!

Mariel of Redwall

Saxtus

The winds icy breath oer the land of death

Tells a tale of yet to come.

Cross heaving waves which mark ships graves

Lies an island known to some,

Where seas pound loud and rocks stand proud

And blood flows free as water,

To the far northwest which knows no rest,

Came a father and his daughter.

The mind was numb, and the heart struck dumb,

When the night seas took the child,

Hurled to her fate by a son of Hellgate,

The dark one called The Wild.

You whom they seek, though you do not speak,

The legend is yet to be born;

One day you will sing over stones that are red,

In the misty summer dawn.



Riddle

If I were a fool of any sort,

Id leave Redwall and travel forth,

For only fools seek Terramort

On the pathway leading north.

This trail brings death with every pace;

Beware the dangers lurking there,

Sticklegs of the feathered race

And fins that in the ford do not stir.

After the ford, on night one day,

Seek out the otter and his wife.

Forsake the path, go westlands way,

Find the trail and lose your life.

When in the woods this promise keep,

With senses sharp and open eyes,

My nose shall not send me to sleep

For buried ones will surely rise.

Beat the hollow oak and shout,

We are creatures of Redwall!

If a brave one is about,

Hell save any fool at all.

Beware the light that shows the way,

Trust not the wart-skinned toad,

In his realm no night no day.

Fool, stay on the road.

Where the sea meets the shore,

There the final clue is hid;

Rock stands sentinel evermore,

Find it as I did.

The swallow who cannot fly south,

The bird that only flies one way,

Lies deep beneath the monsters mouth,

Keep him with you night and day.

His flight is straight, norwest is true,

Your fools desire hell show to you.



The Poem on the Bell

I will ring for wedding times, when two hearts unite.

I will toll the hours out, all daytime and through the night.

I will wake good creatures up, from their beds each morning,

Or toll when theyre in danger, a clear and brazen warning.

For all the family, son and daughter, husband and goodwife,

I will boom a sad farewell, when they must leave this life.

For many great occasions, for many different reasons,

Listen and my voice youll hear, throughout the changing seasons.

Though I may boom, clang, peal or toll, command and use me well.

But hark, beware the evil ones who would misuse this bell.



Tarquin

Now my grandpa. he was by far

A dreadful fat old liar.

Its cold upon the river tonight, he said,

As he sat upon the fire,

til my old grandma came along

And hit him with the ladle.

Theres another egg been cracked, she laughed,

As she set him on the table.

Doodle oo lolly tum

Tiddly oodly iddly um

I loved a rabbits daughter,

And she fed me pots of tea

made out of boiling water.



Salamandastron Sister Nastertiums Song In the days of old a warrior bold,

All pawsore, tired and lame,

Came marching through the winters cold,

And Martin was his name.

Martin, Martin, the Warrior of Redwall,

With courage and his trusty sword

he came to save us all.

Now in the high and far-off days,

The country was oppressed

By vermin cruel,whose tyrant ways

Would let no creature rest.

But truth and bravry won the day,

For through all Mossfloer wide,

Good honest creatures made their way

To stand by Martins side.......And they cried:

Martin, Martin the warrior of Redwall,

With courage and his trusty sword

He came to save us all.

The evil ones he put to flight

And justice he restored.

His heart was strong, his cause was right,

And mighty was his sword.

He helped to build our Abbey here,

The land rings with his fame.

Now peace lives here, we know no fear,

For Martin was his name.

Martin, Martin the Warrior of Redwall,

With courage and his trusty sword

He came to save us all!

Dumbles Song Theres no roof mouse, nor chimbley mouse

No winder mouse or floor mouse

An I aint gotta nokker on me nose, but

Im a likkle dormouse.

Theres a fieldmouse anna arvestmouse,

An edgemouse an probly a shoremouse,

But Im the bestest of the lot,

Cos Im a likkle dormouse.

Ohahaha an heeheehee,

Yes Im a likkle dormouse.

So Ill eat me dinner an grow big,

An then Ill be enor-mouse!

Gusssom Rowing Song Ill sing you a song of the river-o,

Where the waters clean and clear,

And the long fast Guosssom logboats go.

Weer the shrews that know no fear,

So bend your back and use those paws.

From the graval bank to sandy shores,

Your cares and woes will dissappear,

Just sit paddling here.

Guossssssom...........Gusssssssssom!

Ill sing you a song of the river-o,

It belongs to me and you.

Oer deeps and shallows well both go,

With the finest Guosssom crew,

When other creatures bound to land

Will not feel half so free and grand,

Or know the water shrews great skill.

So paddle with a goodwill.

Guossssssom..........Guosssssom!

Pikkles Song O, I'm a Salamandastron lad,

An' by my reckonin' that's not bad.

Scoff, chaps, scoff! Now listen, shipmates, while I say

I'd rather scoff than paddle all day.

O, scoff y' villains, scoff! I don't think that I'd feel so sore

With an apple pudden in each paw.

Scoff, chaps, scoff! So set me down on good dry earth,

I'll eat an' snooze for all I'm worth.

O, scoff, y' villains, scoff!

Pikkles Ditty I'd give my left ear an' raise a cheer

For a plate of woodland pie,

And as for a pudden, if it was a good un,

I'd give my best right eye

I'd give a paw to get my jaw

Around a fat fruit cake.

For dumplin' stew, my tail could go too.

I mean, for goodness sake, If I saw a pasty, I wouldn't get nasty

I'd trade it for my nose.

And if I couldn't smell, I'd just say "Well,

I'd rather have one of those." So take my heart and leave that me that tart,

But my mouth I won't take off,

Because, I plead, it's a mouth I'll need

To eat all that bally scoff!

Martin the Warrior

Grumms song

Naow Granfer were a powful mole.

Scratch a tunnel dig an ole,

The moightiest eater, so oim tole,

In all of all ee woodlands.

Youm shouldve seen him eaten cake.

Granmum said, fer guddness sake,

Oill start ee oven up to bake

An twelveteen cakes oill make.

If Granfer ate wun, him at two,

Ho dearie me, oim tellen you,

Him ate those twelveteen cakes roight throo,

Then went to sleep till zummer.

An when ee zummer sun did break,

My ole granfer came awake,

The gudd ole beast drinked all ee lake

An left ee fishes sobbin.

Himn story as oive toald to you,

Oi swears as every wurd be troo,

Iffen youm think oi tole fibs to you,

Then go an arsk ee fishes!



Pallum

Oh, the hedgehog is a fine old beast,

All covered oer with needles,

Not smooth, oh no, like some I know,

Eels an fish an beetles.

Some creatures calls us hedgepigs,

An others says hedgedogs,

But I do know that frogs is frogs,

An hedgehogs is hedge hogs!

Hoopoes Song

Hey, give me cake and bring me ale,

And pudding ripe with plums,

Some cider, dear, so cool and clear,

To swill round teeth and gums,

Some round and golden mellow cheese,

And light brown nutbread, if you please,

With honey made by happy bees,

And I will be contented.

O fie the creature with long face

Who nibbles small and cant keep pace

With tartlets filled full berryfruit

And yellow meadowcream to boot,

Or soup with pepper and hotroot,

And burdock ale to quench it.

Oh, eat up, neighbor, drink up, friend,

May good fortune have no end.

Success to all that you intend,

And leave the pots till morning!



Deepern Ever Pie Song

 Give ee, give you, give themn to oi,

Turnipn tatern beetroot poi,

Gurt platters each morn, an more at ee noight,

Fill oi a bowlful,

et tasters jus roight.

An iffen ee infant wakes, starten to croi,

Feed im turnipm tatern beetroot poi.

Ets gudd fur ee stummick, ets good fur ee jaws,

Nought gives us molers more pleasuren joy

Than turnipn tatern beetroot poi!



The Bellmaker Dibbuns Song Give us dinner every eve,

Or well pack our bags and leave.

Where well go to we dont know,

Up the path a league or so.

If we dont find comfort there,

Back to Redwall well repair.

Well eat pudden, pie, and cake,

All the Abbey cooks can bake!

Finnbar Galedeep Whoa, the was an ole lobster who married a cod,

Boggle me barnacles, sail off t sea,

And tho all the cockles an clams thought it odd,

Boggle me barnacles, over the brine,

I knows yer a codfish but darlin yore mine! For the weddin brekkfist the pair ad to feed,

Boggle me barnacles, sail of t sea,

On rootybag cake an the best of the seaweed,

Boggle me barnacles, over the brine,

I knows yer a lobster but I loves yer fine! They were married offshore by a little fat whale,

Boggle me barnacles, sail off t sea,

An the guests drank barrels of deepwater ale,

Boggle me barnacles, over the brine,

Pass me that flagon of green ocean wine! The party went on til an hour before dark,

Boggle me barnacles, sail off t sea,

An they were ate up by an iggerant shark,

Boggle me barnacles, over the brine,

An a shark dont ave manners when hes out do dine!

Hon Rosie Stand back and watch this Bulgum

He's goin' to do some magic,

But if young Rufe has taught him wrong,

It could turn out quite tragic. Get back to the ship now, Fatch,

I'll be right behind you,

Glog-a-log oh please don't sneeze,

Or they will never find you. Careful when you spit that grog,

Don't stand near the venue,

Or you'll end up crispy fried,

On the marshtoad menu!

The Outcast of Redwall Elmjaks Snakebite Poem If beast be bit by fang of snake,

And lying near Dark Forest gate,

This ancient poultice you must make,

To thwart the paws of fate.

Find berries from the rowan tree,

Add one small green pine cone,

With young leaf of raspberry,

Pounded flat beneath a stone.

Heat oer a flame til covered dark,

Stir fast to make a past of it,

Bind hot and tight with aspen bark,

Unto the limb the serpent bit.

Change oft from dawn until nightfall,

Make sure the beast lies still,

Mayhap hell live to thank us all,

If he be strong of will!

Badger Poem Arm not alas sand, way south in the west,

So star land a mat, thats where I love best,

Sand not as alarm, lone seabirds do wing,

And alas most ran, list to me whilst I sing,

Ill walk alongside you, my lost little one,

Well find the mountain Salamandastron!

Wurpldown Dumm Oh, I knowed a mole called Wurpldown Dumm,

Ee wurr a rascal, a villyun boi gumm,

An ee ad the plumpest an fattest ole tumm,

As ever was seed in yon wuddland. For brekkist ee eated a duzzing gurt pies,

They say that is tumm wurr as big as is eyes,

Ee kept is mouth opened so ee cudd catch flies,

Ee et everythink in yon wuddland. One day as ole Wurpldown Dumm lied asleep,

Ee Lord o Dark Forest came wi ee gurt leap

An carried im off furrever to keep,

Ole Wurpldown in ee dark wuddland. An all ee dead vermints cried,Coom an see mates,

O boggle us seasons, an lackaday fates

Yon fat mole ees eatin gurt Dark Forest Gates,

O get im back up to ee wuddlands. Ee said,Oive eated butterflies, oive eated bees,

Oive drinked lost o soups an cordials an teas,

But gates o Dark Forest tastes just loike gudd cheese,

One day oill go back to those wuddlands!

Folrigs Hotroot Soup Song When I was just a little beast,

I was so small an weak,

Id often fall flat on me tall,

An I could ardly speak.

I scarce could totter round the floor,

Me whiskers used to droop,

Til granma made a great big pot

Of good ole otroot soup!

An now Im brisker than a bee,

More fitter than a mole,

Most every day I ear granma say

Give im another bowl! Ill live a thousand seasons,

Grow strong as any tree,

Give me a spoon an fetch it soon,

Good otroot soup for me!

Through wintercold or summerheat,

The Badger Lord knows no defeat!

Point of spear or blade of sword,

Nought can stop the Badger Lord!

Shrew Song of Sunflash the Mace Oh, twas all in the summertime,

Our hearts did sadly grieve,

The searats stole up in the night,

And with our babes did leave.

Full four and thirty little shrews

Were taken to be slaves,

To live in misery or refuse

And die in watery graves.

But then a mighty warrior

Did come along our way;

We knew what fate had sent him for,

When these words he did say:

Come follow me down to the sea,

Across the mountains track,

And I will set your young ones free;

Ill bring those babies back.

And then with mighty chunks of rock,

He dammed the great broadstream

And gave those foul searats a shock,

Which caused them all to scream.

He came with death held in his paw,

Which no rat born could face.

Oh woe to those who break the law

Of Sunflash and his mace.

Take warning all you bold searats,

Who plough the raging main,

Steal not out babes, and come not near

Our peaceful shores again,

For fear you meet the Badger Lord,

He of the gold-marked face,

For youll meet death once youve met

The Warrior with the mace.

Guosim Rowing Song Shrum a too rye hey, shrum a too rye hey,

Dig those paddle deep today,

Where the alders shade me overhead,

And trout swim on the broadstream bed.

Im a Guosim, to the water wed,

Shrum a too rye hey, shrum a too rye hey,

Ill see you one day to make,

Oer any stream or pond or lake,

A good ole logboats ripplin wake,

Shrum a too rye hey, shrum a too rye hey, shrum

shruuuuuuuuuuuum.

Skarlaths Spring Song I went off to my bed one dark winters night,

When the ground was all snowy and covered up white,

And snug in my blanket I started to dream

That the ice had all melted away from the stream.

Ooooh! Plip plop, hear the water drop,

The larks take wing as the buds go pop!

The sun do shine as the birds do sing,

Throw open wide the gates of spring! Then I dreamt that I felt all the earth come awake,

And the sky was as blue as a clear mountain lake,

And through that old dream a good sound ringing too,

Twas the heralding song of a happy cuckoo!

Ooooh! Plip plop, hear the water drop,

And larks take wing as the buds go pop!

And the sun do shine as the birds do sing,

Throw open wide the gates if sping! Fol de rol de lair of lair oh,

Hail the newborn day,

Spring has made the weather fair of,

Winters gone away!

Dibbuns Cut the cake, cut the cake,

Cut the cake for goodness sake,

Me an my mate have each got a plate,

An here we have to sit and wait.

So cut the cake, say the grace,

Lets get cream upon me face,

An sticky paws as a slice I take,

Oh cut that cake for goodness sake!

A Marching Song Oh we chased em off the highway,

They fled off to the west,

We sent em every whichway,

Our warriors are the best.

Theyll never see ole Redwall,

Cos they were forced to flee,

Sent on their way be shaft n stone

From every greenwood tree.

Bad luck attend the vermin beast

Who came out of the north and east,

Well give em bloodnsteelnstone,

Until they leave our land alone!

Jodds Ditty O the reason why I sing this ballad,

Is cos I wish I were a salad;

If I were a salad, a great big one,

Id lick the plate when I was gone!

But merrydown derrydown, I dont care,

Im hungry as a good old hare. So all you frogs pay heed to me,

A puddens what Id like to be;

All full of plums an steamin hot,

Id scoff me in a flash, eh, wot?

But merrydown derrydown, no not me,

A good old hare is what Ill be. Then if I were a great fat fish,

The frogs would lay me in a dish;

And when they all sat down to sup,

With forks an knives theyd cut me up.

So merrydown derrydown, lack a day,

A hungry hare is what Ill stay!

Veil Give him a name and leave him awhile,

Veil may live to be evil and vile,

Though I hope my prediction will fail,

And evil so vile will not live in Veil.

Home Returning See the smoke curl from the chimney,

An the mat beside the door,

On the path there stands the family,

Like you left em long before.

Home returning, home returning,

Seasons gone an young uns grown,

Home returning, home returning,

Back to those I call my own! There the fire burns and the ale brews,

An the bread bakes soft an brown,

While my friends wait with the good news,

Bring my chair an sit me down.

Home returning, home returning,

Comes the warrior from the war,

Home returning, home returning,

Home to wander nevermore!

Sunflashs Poem for Skarlath Here often I gaze out oer the seas,

When winter snows have gone to spring so fair

Alone, except for butterflies and bees,

Remembering the times we used to share.

Your spirit soars oer places where Id walk,

Not holding any friend on earth so true,

Upon my shoulder, good and faithful hawk,

O Skarlath, there was never one like you!

With heavy heart I sit alone in grief,

Lord of the mountain, ruling over all,

Wishing I could split a single leaf,

To bring you back again, with our old call. The Pearls of Lutra Romsca Im the babe of a bloodripper,

Born in the teeth of a gale,

Im the one who wields a sword,

An makes the foebeast wail. Im as sharp as the reef rock,

I carry death in me paw,

Go were I like, slay who I will,

Thats the corsairs law! Bloods me favorite color,

Im swiftern lightnin aye,

Stand out me way, stand out I say,

Step aside now, or die! Cos Im the spawn O nightstorm,

An death sails in me wake,

I sheath me blade in innards,

An what I want, I take! Come one, come all, Im waitin,

Ill flay your carcass bare,

So everyplace I go theyll say,

Ahoy, you bold corsaaaaiiiirrrrrr!

A Guosim Song Guosim! Guosim!

Sail im, dip im, douse im.

Ifn you see a shrew in river or stream,

Who can jump like a trout and swim like a bream,

Fight like a pike an sing like a lark,

An paddle a boat from dawn til dark...

Yer lookin at a Guosim!

O Guosim! Guosim!

Sail im, dip im, douse im.

Ifn you see a shrew that cn cook up a stew,

Brew dark beer an bake bread too,

An bend is back an pull an oar,

Row all day an shout fer more...

Yer lookin at a Guosim!

O Guosim! Guosim!

Sail im, dip im, douse im.

Not an otter or a waterdog,

No nor a spiky ole edgeog,

Even a warty toad or frog,

So its three cheers for our Log a Loooooooog!

Were Guosim! Guosim! Guosim!

Cleckys Song Of all the creatures in the land,

The sea or in the air,

Not one of em is half so grand,

Or noble as a hare.

A hare can jump, a hare can run,

He dont live down a hole,

In fact a hares more fun,

Than almost any mole.

A hares courageous and so brave,

Good-mannered and quite courtly,

Sometimes hes serious and grave,

But never fat, just portly.

He never puts footpaw wrong,

His dispositionss sunny,

With ears so elegant and long,

Not stubby like a bunny.

So sing his praises everywhere,

This creature bold, with charm to spare,

The one thing better than a hare,

Is two hares, thats a pair!



Shad There was an otter be a stream,

Come ringle dum o lady,

Who fell asleep and had a dream,

All on the bank so shady.

He dreamt the stream was made of wine,

It flowed along so merry,

And when he drank it tasted fine,

Like plum and elderberry.

And all the banks were made of cake,

Come ringle ding my dearie,

As nice as any cook could bake,

That otter felt quite cheery.

He drank and ate with right good will,

Till wakened by his daughter.

She said, I hope youve had your fill,

Of mud and cold streamwater!

Come ringle doo fol doodle day,

Come wisebeast or come witty,

A fool who dreams to dine that way,

Must waken to self-pity.

Cleckys Ballad This is the story of Corkal hare,

Which is most terribly tragic, horribly sad and pretty

Awfully fearfuuuuuuuuuuuul!

So pray give attention, list to my song and dont fall

asleep,

Although tis not too cheerfuuuuuuuuuuul!

Poor Corkal fell foul of an evil fox,

Who was mean an horribly cruuuuuuuuuuel!

An foolishly he challenged him,

Next mornin at dawn to a duuuuuuuuuuuuel! Both creatures chose as their weapons,

To hurl at each other, salaaaaaaaaaad!

Good job they never chose soup or else,

I might never have wrote this ballaaaaaaaaaaad!

So the very next mornin as dawn did break,

All brightnhotnwarmn an suneeeeeeeeeee!

Which considerin it was the dead o winter,

Our hero did not find it to funneeeeeeeeeeee! There in the field the two creatures met,

Each beast with salad ladeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!

A terrible sight not fit for the eyes,

Of any tender young maideeeeeeeeeeeen!

An the lettuce an the carrots an the onions they all flew

like lightniiiiiiiiiiiiiin!

An they fought an they ate,

an they aten they fought,

The seen was pretty frightniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin! But now my friends Ive reached the end of my most sad

renditiiiion,

At the end of the epic battle royal this was a sad

positiiiiiiion,

Neither the fox nor the hare had won, they were both in

bad conditiiiiiiiiiion,

Sufferin from fierce indigestion because they ate all the

ammunitiiiiiiiiion!

Grath Longfletchs Ballad Sad winds sweep the shores,

Near a place called Holt Lutra,

Where first I saw daylight the day I was born,

And lone seabirds call

Oer the grave of them all,

Whilst my tears mingle into the seas as I mourn. For those Tears of all Oceans,

Six pearls like pink rosebuds,

Once plucked from the waters beneath the deep main,

Oh my father, oh my mother

Dear sisters and brothers,

In the gray light of dawn all my family were slain. They sailed in by nightdark,

Those cold heartless vermin,

Their pity as scant as a midwinters breath,

Then laughing and jeering

As slashing and spearing,

My kinfolk were slaughtered by wavescum to death. But there greatest mistake was,

They left Lutras daughter,

I swore then an oath that the seasons would show,

My Green arrows flying,

And seavermin dying,

Cursing with their last breath the swift song of my bow. So vengeance will drive me,

As long as my paws strong,

To sharpen a shaft and my bowstring to stretch,

The price vermin paid,

For six pearls in a raid,

Is that death bears the same name as I, Grath Longfletch.

Old Corsair Ballad O curse the name Mad Eyes,

Say woe to the day

When he tried to steal

Tears of all Oceans away.

All corsairs and searats

Whose messmates lie dead,

Saw blood and hot flame

Turn the seas flowing red.

Though northcoast lies far

And the ocean is wide,

Run from the green arrows

Of vengeance, and hide.

For the price of six tears

Through the dreams of us all,

Walks the fear of a warrior

From the place called Redwall.

Now the life of our Brethren

Who followed the sea,

Will neer be the same

For such rovers as we.

Twas the greed of a tyrant

That brought us to shame,

Six tears for a crown--

Curse the emperors name!



Sister Cicely If Sister Cicely serves some soup,

Shell surely see some sup it,

Swig it swift, sure and slick,

Should it set stiff nslimy, then suck it.

If Cicely suspects that such soup has been scorned,

Shell slip slyly in and even the score,

So if Sister persists, woe to him that resists,

Cicelys certain to serve him some more.

The Long Patrol

A Long Patrol Song

O vermin if you dare, come and visit us someday,

Bring all you friends and weapons with you too.

Youll find a good warm welcome, let nobeast say

That cold steel was never good for you.

You wont find poor helpless beasts all undefended,

Like the old ones, babes, and mothers that youve slain,

And youll find that when youre pleasant visits ended,

Youll never ever leave our shores again.

All you cowards of the land and flotsam of the sea,

Who murder, pillage, loot wheneer you please,

Theres a Long Patrol waitin, well greet you

cheerfully,

Youll hear us cry Eulalia on the breeze.

Tis a welcome to the bullies who slay without a care,

All those good and peaceful creatures who cant fight,

But perilous and dangerous the beast they call a hare,

Who stands for nought but honor and the right.

Eulalia! Eulalia! Come bring your vermin horde,

The Long Patrol awaits you, led by a Badger Lord!

The Anthem

Oh, its hard and dry, when the sun is high

And dust is in your throat,

When the rain pours down, near fit to drown,

And soaks right through your coat.

But the hares of the Long Patrol, my lads,

Stouthearts they walk with me,

Over hill and plain, and back again,

By the shores of the wide blue sea.

Through mud and mire to a warm campfire,

Ill trek with you, old friend,

Oer lea and dale, in a roaring gale,

Right to our journeys end.

Yes, the hares of the Long Patrol, my lads,

Love friendship more than gold.

Well share good days, and tread long ways,

Good comrades brave and bold.



October Ale

October Ale, tis brewed when summers done,

From hopsnyeast an barley fine,

With just a pinch of dandelion,

A smidgeon of good honey, a taste of elderflower,

An dont forget the old wild oat

culled at dawns first hour.

We puts it up in casks of oak,

All seasoned well with maple smoke,

Then lays it in cellars deep,

Ten seasons long to sleep.

October ale, no drink so goodn cheery

In winter by the fireside bright

To warm your paws the whole long night,

Or after autumn harvesting, to rest an take your ease.

Just sip a tankard nice an slow,

With crusty bread an cheese.

Tis wholesome full an hearty

For any feast or party.

Wed tramp oer forest hill and dale,

For good October Ale!



Ditty

If I were a leaf upon a tree,

Then I would live right happily,

Id grow up flat and green and big,

Unless less of course I was a twig,

A twig with a leave upon its end,

And then the leaf would be my friend,

Id grow to such a wondrous length,

And from my branch Id take my strength.

If I were a branch upon a tree,

With leave and twig for company,

Id grow so round and fair and trim,

Sprouting from a great stout limb,

But if I were a limb all thick and wide,

Branch, twig, and leaf Id hold with pride,

And they would all depend of me,

And the mighty trunk of my big tree.

Then if I were a tree with bark for husk,

Id stand up firm from dawn til dusk,

And limb, branch, twig and leaf would be

All through the seasons part of me!







Marlfox

Marlfox poem

To where will they go,

This is a secret nobeast may know.

Marlfox!

Plundering, murdering, vulpine thieves,

Who blend with stone or meld with leaves.

Marlfox!

See pale eyes and swirling cloak,

Appear like nightmare,

Vanish like smoke.

Marlfox!

What steals upon the silent air,

Gleaming fangs, mottled fur,

A deadly axblade is lying there.

Marlfox!

Nobeast living can hide from thee,

O thou who treads invisibly,

Cross hill and vale through woods and rocks.

Marlfox!

Marlfox!

Marlfox!



Noonvale Song

Oh, for the open road,

No dullards life for me,

The world is my abode,

Performing endlessly.

Im free Im free, companions we,

Travel the highways happily,

Performing deeds of derring-do,

And plays of heroes good and true,

Tumbling singing in merry attire,

Pray tell me sir, whats your desire?

Come fiddle dum twiddle dum derrydownday,

A harum-scarum hoopallahay,

Come one come all this day to see

The Wandering Noonvale Troupe Companeeeeeee!



The Most Important Ant

I once knew an ant and I knew him right well,

This ant he lived in a hazelnut shell,

He had relations to count by the score,

They used to came knocking on his tiny door.

One whas call distant, he lived for away,

Another was pleasant, hed bide you good day,

A third was called constant, he was never away,

Then there was hesitant, not sure hed stay,

And poor old reluctant not sure too,

And the one called valiant stout and true.

Now Ill tell you the reason they all came to call,

Cos he was the most important of all!



The Battle of the Final Crumpet

Oh, twas on the umpty-ninth of spring,

When a duck blew on a trumpet,

I led me army from behind,

To the battle of the final crumpet.

Some wore boots an some wore clogs,

An some wore big long faces,

An two fat moles fell down with colds,

Before wed marched ten paces.

At the battle of the final crumpet,

I very near lost me life,

When I go punched upon the nose,

By a big bad hedgehogs wife.

Then all broke out in mutiny,

When a mouse with a mustache said,

Lie down me lads afore they charge,

So theyll think were all dead!

Well there we sat while all around,

The spears an shafts were thuddin,

A-drinkin goosegog cordial wine,

An eatin cabbage pudden.

We finally defeated them,

When the duck tripped on his trumpet,

An I got a feather in me cap,

Cos I ate the final crumpet!



Riddle

 At the rear of redstone wall,

Find me oer were breaks the day,

You cannot, shall not walk at all,

Just follow as I run away.

Discover the speechless hidden mouth,

Alas, my friends, our ways part there,

Go down green tunnel, bounden south,

Through trees with blossoms in their hair.

Then when the sky shows blue and light,

And clear down to the bed you gaze,

Be not decieved by rainbows bright,

Beware tall stones and misted haze.

Leaping, boiling, stealing breath,

None can stand against its might,

Which sweeps the traveler down to death,

In the caves of grim eternal night.

And should you live to seek the lake,

Watch for the fish of blue and grey,

Betwixt those twos the path you take,

Good fortune wend you on your way!



Florian

An if on an empty tummy Im slain,

Then Ill jolly well never get killed again,

So pass the pudden an fetch those pies,

An Ill give the foebeast a rotten surprise!



Noonvale Troupe

I paint my face or wear a mask,

For Ill be anybeast you ask,

As I wander on my way.

A skillful tumbler bounding high,

A pitiful mope wholl make you cry,

My actors part I play.

And what care you if I am sad,

Or if ill fortune I have had,

Tis just a clown, you say.

Aye, just a droll who plays a part,

Who travels in a painted cart,

From dawn to dusk each day.

An actor can be young or old,

Figure of fun or hero bold,

From tears to laughter without a pause,

I strut the stage to your applause,

Then I look in my mirror and say, Hey,

What fool shall I play today? 



Shrew Manners

If you eat to much youll sink the boat,

Burst yore shoes an split yore coat,

Just scoff enough so you stay afloat,

Tis manners, good manners!

If you pinch the vittles from anothers plate,

Wait till hes lookin the other way, mate,

An when fish are bitin, dont eat the bait,

Tis manners, good manners!

If yore a shrew of the Guosim clan,

You must be sure to think of a plan,

To share yore mateys pudden or flan,

Tis manners, good manners!

Remember to chew everythin in sight,

If it dont bite back, than get first bite,

An always take a basinful to bed each night,

Tis manners, good manners!



Green Rushes an Lilies so Pale

Green rushes, green rushes an liles so pale,

Pray sit ye down friend now an list to my tale,

For rivers flow fast an the mountains are tall,

An across the wide moorlands the curlews do call,

Dirry wallaker williker doodle rum day!

Green rushes, green rushes an lilies so pale,

Bring me breadncheese an some dandelion ale,

An light up a fire now to warm my cold paws,

Ill here all winter till that river thaws,

Skither riddle aye fiddle aye rumbletum hey!

Green rushes, green rushes and lilies so pale,

Ive traveled so far over valley an dale,

Stale breadnhard cheese an the ale isnt here,

An the fire isnt lit so tis good bye, me dear.

Rowtle dowtle rye tootIe I go on me way!

Green rushes pale lilies Ill bid ye good day!

For where Im not welcome I never would stay!

An to all you musicions Id just like to say,

Ive sung out to fast for yore indulgence I pray!

Florians Poem

Armed to the dirty mangy teeth,

Ten of em came at me,

Hoho, me buckoes, here, sez I,

Only ten of ye?

So I boxed their ears an blacked their eyes,

Then I tied their tails in knots.

I kicked their bottoms oer the walls

With javelins an slingshots,

When suddenly behind me back,

Some foul beast shouted Charge!

An twenty-three came right at me,

Those villains were quite large.

So I got my trusty salad fork,

An jabbed em herenthere,

I left em weepin, full o holes,

Oh save us from that hare!

Well I grabbed a fleein Marlfox,

An punched him on the snout,

Both his boots went flyin off,

I gave him such a clout!

Those rats were dirty fighters,

Out came me old soup ladle,

The cowardly pack o blighters,

Fled as fast as they were able

I chased em, laughin bravely,

Haharr now off you pop,

Im the warrior who saved Redwall,

An me last names Willfachop!



A Marlfoxs Poem

The Marlfox cannot be bested,

Either in cunning or stealth,

Whenever there is power to be siezed,

Plunder, land, or wealth,

When other minds are slumbring,

The Marlfox is wide awake,

Figuring how and where and when,

To deceive, to slay, to take!

Invisibly, by the magical guile,

Slyly, with less then a sound,

Count your paws, make sure theyre yours,

When the Marlfox is around!



Ellayos Ditty

I sit alone and wish that I,

Could be a bird up in the sky,

Id join the breezes that do blow,

Whichever way they chanced to go,

For oer the waves, across the sea,

Id drift along quite happily,

Or maybe out on field and fen,

Id circle round some forest glen,

I envy bee and butterfly,

Maybe the birds could tell me why

I wipe a teardrop from my eye,

I sit alone, for I cant fly.



Skilly and Duff

Aboard the good ship Wobbleship,

I sailed when I was young,

First in line an feelin fine,

Our Capn ad a fogorn voice,

An boots as big as me,

Stand by me lads, ere comes a ship,

Tis a pirate craft!, cried he.

Whoa skillynduff, thats the stuff,

To keep nearby when things get rough!

The pirate Capn was a rat,

His name was Itchee Scratch,

Upon his nose, why goodness knows,

He wore a red eyepatch.

Haul to, ye dozy lubbers,

An I smells plunder in the air,

Wot might be skilly an duff.

Whoa skillynduff, thats the stuff,

Us waterbeasts cant get enough!

Well I tell you, my word is true,

Our crew got quite upset,

To rob a sailers dinner was,

The worst thing wed eard yet,

So we put down our bowlsnspoons,

Then armed ourselves with slings,

We slung at those ole pirate rats,

A dozen kinds o things.

Whoa skillynduff, thats the stuff,

To eat while fightin searats gruff!

That pirate Capn, he got shot,

By a barrel load of peas,

Wot blacked his eyes an stung his thighs,

An fractured all his knees.

We hit the crew with onion skins,

Big cabbage stalks as well,

With hardcrust pies an orrible cries,

They splashed into the swell.

Whoa skillnduff, thats the stuff,

When vermin crews you must rebuff!

As Wobbleship sailed away that day,

We sang a jolly song,

The bottlenosed cook with laughter shook,

As the dinner bell went bong.

Im old an fat with a greasy hat,

But this to you I say,

I mustve scoffed a score o bowls,

Of skillnduff that day.

Whoa skillynduff, thats the stuff,

When winter winds do howlnpuff!





The Legend of Luke

Trimp's Song

"You lark on high,

O minstrel of the sky,

Sing out! Sing out!

Now sing you joyously,

To Mother Nature and her earth,

This is the golden summer's birth,

A wondrous sight to see!

Hail, fine tall trees,

Your leaves dance in the breeze,

Rejoice! Rejoice!

And sway so gracefully,

You'll feel your blossom soon give way,

To ripened fruit some sunny day,

Oh please save some for me!

Sing out! Rejoice!

Let all who have a voice,

Call out so sweet and happily,

O'er woodland vale and grassy lea,

Good day my friend to thee!"



Grace

"May good fortune never cease,

Where we build and till the soil,

Mother Nature grant us peace,

And reward us for our toil.



Summer's come now life is sweet,

Food is here for one and all,

In good friendship let us eat,

As one family at Redwall"



Hauling Song

'Away O! Away O!

Haul hard an' take her out,

I'll tell ye of the Greenhawk,

An' her Cap'n, ole Chopsnout.

Away O! Away O! Now bend yore backs an' heave ho!



Ole Reynard Chopsnout was a fox,

A bad corsair to boot,

Who ran his vessel on some rocks,

While searchin' round for loot.

Away O! Away O! Now bend yore backs an' heave ho!



So to the northlands he did steer,

The Greenhawk to repair,

A warrior who knew no fear,

Named Luke was livin' there.

Away O! Away O! Now bend Yore backs an' heave ho!



That corsair came with all his hoard,

I'll tell ye mates 'tis true,

Brave Luke took up his battlesword,

An' that bad fox he slew.

Away O! Away O! Now bend yore backs an' heave ho!



Then Luke called up his gallant crew,

The Greenhawk did repair,

He changed her name to Sayna too,

Which sounded good and fair.

Away O! Away O! Now bend yore backs an' heave ho!



So Luke the Warrior sailed away,

He left the northland shore,

He swore an oath that one fine day,

He'd come back home once more.

Away O! Away O! Now bend yore backs an' heave ho!'



Queen Garaway

'I'm bound to sing this song,

Though I shouldn't really ought,

I'm the Queen of all these otters yet,

They call me Queen of Nort?

Yes Queen of Nort!

My goodness who'd have thought,

That one day I'd be a Majesty,

Or something of that sort,

But all the otters that I see,

Must bow and wave their tails to me,

Whilst I just nod back graciously,

I'm Queen of Nort!

Good Queen of Nort,

My northern otter tribe,

Live all along the riverbanks,

And beat their foes with tails like planks,

I rule them wisely and give thanks,

I'm Queen of Nort!

There's nought I'd rather be,

I say to myself constantly,

Your Majesty is really me,

And I don't look like royalty,

I'm Quee-ee-ee-ee-heeeeen of Nort!

N...O...R...T, may I rule long and graciously!'



Tails in the Stream

'Tails in the stream mates, tails in the stream,

No time t' sit around the bank an' dream,

Is it a pike perch roach or bream?

No, 'tis an otter with his tail in the stream!

Whupperywhoo mates, whupperyhoo,

Clouds are white an' the sky is blue,

Rap with y' tail an' stamp with that paw,

Bow to y' partner an' around once more!

Bread'n'honey'n'cakes'n'cream,

Supper's in the oven an' tails in the stream!'



Dinny's Mole Ballad

'Ho doodlum roodlum wurdilum day,

All on 'ee broight zummer mornin'!

Bold Doogul mole where gurtly brave,

As oi wurr told boi moi muther,

Furr maidens boi the score 'eed save,

Loik chesknutts wun arfter anuther,

Each morn ee rowd owt frum 'is abode,

A-mounted ona milky-whoit toad,

Serchin' ee danjeruss forest road,

A-lukken for ee maidens.



'Ho doodlum roodlum wurdilum day,

All on 'ee broight zummer mornin'!

Ee spoied a gurt fat molewoife thurr,

An' doffed 'is 'at to 'er proudly,

Which froikkened ee molewoife out'n 'er wits,

She'm started to wail roight loudly,

Ee shuvved 'er up onna back of 'is toad,

An' troid t' ride off down ee road,

But two fat moles was an 'evvy load,

An' ee toad wurr crushed loik a beekle.



'Ho doodlum roodlum wurdilum day,

All on 'ee broight zummer mornin'!

Then oop cumm ee gudd an' stoutly mole,

Ee croid, "Woe thurr, bless moi loif,

Thurr be two villyuns tryin' to steal,

Moi dear ole fatty gurt woif!"

So pullin' owt a knotty ash club,

Bowth toad an' Doogul ee did drub,

Ee gave 'em black'n'bloo lumps t' rub,

An' 'is woif gave 'im cabbage furr supper.'



Furmo

'Hooooooo rum tum toe, follah diddle doh,

Me boots are full of water,

And the bread won't rise,

So I'm scoffin' apple pies,

An' swiggin' good dark porter.



Hoooooo bless my fur, an' you sit over there,

There's honeycake an' salad,

An' you've got no choice,

But t'listen to me voice,

As I sing you this ballad!'



Gonnf's Reply

'Hooooooo you sit there, an' I'll sit here,

An' I won't hear yore ballad,

But I'll scoff your pie,

An' I'll look ye in the eye,

With me ears stuffed full o' salad!'



Shrew Lullaby

'The stream flows by and time rolls by,

Now daytime flies so close those eyes,

It's been a long day little one, little one.

Small birds now slumber in their nest,

And fishes in their stream,

Know night has come to send us rest,

And give to all a wondrous dream,

All night hours go, so soft and low,

The lazy stream runs calm and slow,

It's been a long day little one, little one.

Our weary world is waiting soon,

Bright stars will pierce the sky,

As silent as the golden moon,

That sheds her light on you and I,

And when the darkness drifts away,

Some lark up high will sing and say,

Oh welcome to a newborn day, little one.'



The Festive Fight

'One dark an' stormy night,

As the sunset in the east,

To granma's house I went,

For to partake of a feast,

With frogs an' fat hedgehogs,

Some otters an' a sparrow,

An' a squirrel who attended too,

Armed with a bow an' arrow.

The seedcake had been served,

When a dormouse in a bonnet,

Took one bite, oh what a sight,

She broke her teeth upon it.

Then backward fell a mole,

Tail first into the custard,

Ole granpa grabbed his spoon,

An' lookin' quite disgusted,

He hit the mole a smack,

Then like a flash of lightnin',

An otter brained him with a flan,

That started of the fightin'.

We fenced with celery sticks,

With pies an' puddens pelted,

The squirrel with the bow,

By a pot of soup got belted,

A sparrow flung a scone,

It laid the otter senseless,

Then granma swung her pan,

An' left us all defenceless,

Two frogs sailed out the door,

A hedgehog up the chimney,

Whilst me an' ole granpa,

To the mantlepiece clung grimly.

So hark an' hear my tale,

Stay safe at home an' starve sir,

Steer clear of granma's house,

When there's goin' t'be a feast there!'



Furmo II

'You stay aft, mate I'll stay fore,

Mind the rocks an' watch the shore,

Like good shipmates you an' me,

Roll down t'meet the sea!

Fast as fast as you can wish,

Through the waters like a fish,

Our ole craft do wend its way,

On this bright summer's day!

Wid spray in yore face,

An' a crackin' pace,

An' a runnin' stream afore,

If y'never lack a wind at y'back,

Then who could ask for more!

Ooooooh rum a doodle aye doh

Go where I go

Rum a doodle aye do follow me!'



Hedgehog's Ghost Song

'Ooooo ooo um! Ooooo ooo ahhhhhhh!

From the deep cold seas afar,

Spirits of the dead arise,

Rattling bones and sightless eyes,

From the deep mysterious sea,

Wand'ring beach and lonely shore,

We must walk eternally,

Wand'ring, seeking evermore,

When the pale moon sends its light,

Or in dark and starless night,

Roaming near and traveling far,

Ooooo ooo um! Ooooo ooo ahhhhhhh!



Leave the coast, desert our shore,

Or stay here evermore,

Go by land or go by see,

Heed this warning words and fleeeeeeeee!'



Hogstamp Pawclap

'Hogstamp pawclap all around the floor,

Shake those spikes that's what they're for.

Day is ended work is done,

Hogstamp pawclap everyone!



Curtsy the pretty maid bow down sir,

You've never danced with one so fair.

Take y'partner one two three,



Swing to the left love follow me!



Rap rap rap! Let's hear those paws,

I'll stamp mine if you stamp yours,

Round an' round now jump up high,

Lookit that young hogmaid fly.



Hogstamp pawclap, move to the right,

I could dance with you all night,

Skip into the middle o' the ring,

Raise y' voice let's hear you sing!



Can't you see, merry are we,

Here's the land and there's the sea.

Promenade let's hear you say,

Honour your partner, jig away!'



St. Ninian

'Old Ninian mouse and his goodwife,

Needed a house to build,

They had a family grown so large,

Their tent was overfilled.



To setting sun the old wife toiled,

From daybreak in the east,

But Ninian was a lazy mouse,

Who loved to sleep and feast.



The wife heaved stone and carried wood,

For door and wall and beam,

Whilst Ninian idly in daylight,

Snored on in peaceful dream.



She raised the gables, built a roof,

Her back was bent and sore,

As Ninian at up all the food,

And loudly called for more.



So when the house at last was built,

His wife nailed up a sign,

Which stated "THIS AIN'T NINIANS!"

She said, "That shows 'tis mine!"



Then when the countless seasons passed,

And all within had died,

The rain and storm of ages long,

Had swept the sign outside.



It washed the first three letters out,

But left the rest intact,

The sign now reads, "S AINT NINIANS!"

A church? A joke? A fact!



So traveller if you read the sign,

Then take my word 'tis true,

A dreamer can become a saint,

So can a glutton too!'



Shanty

'Oh don't it make a sight so grand,

A ship that travels on the land,

Keep that windlass turnin', bend yore backs an' push!



We'll soon have her above the tide,

Then we'll clean an' scrape each side,

Keep that windlass turnin', bend yore backs an' push!



We've got to find a good tree fast,

Then we'll build a new mainmast,

Keep that windlass turnin', bend yore backs an' push!



With pitch an' rope we'll make her right,

All shippyshape an' watertight,

Keep that windlass turnin', bend yore backs an' push!



You vermin scum, oh mercy me,

Beware when Luke puts out to sea,

Keep that windlass turnin', bend yore backs an' push!'



Old Twoola's Song

'Oh the weather's cold outside outside,

But we're all snug in here,

With thee an' me, good company,

An' lots o' barley beer!



Oh the snow comes down outside outside,

An' winter winds do moan,

But sit us by a roarin' fire,

An' you'll not hear one groan!



Oh the night is dark outside outside,

But the soup is good an' hot,

Good food, fine friends an' happy hearts,

I'd see we've got the lot!'



Welff's Song

'Two plums grew on a pear tree,

A wise old owl did say,

Oh dearie me I'm certain,

They shouldn't grow that way.



For beechnuts come from beech trees,

Whilst Mother Nature rules,

As long as acorns come from oaks,

No wisdom comes from fools!



Then came a little hedgehog,

Who said with a simple smile,

Good day to you wise creature,

Now list' to me awhile.



Why does a tree stay silent,

And yet it has a bark,

An' why do shadows fall at night,

But never leave a mark?



Though you may think me silly,

I know 'tis only fair,

Most any fool can tell you,

That two plums make a pair!'



Beau's Off-key Warble

'Oooooh flunky dee an' a rum tumtum,

The good ship Flinkydogg,

Set sail with a crew o' fishes,

An' fat ole cap'n frog.



Oooooh doodle day make way make way,

The frog said to the fishes,

"All fins on deck an' use yore tails,

To wash these dirty dishes!"



Ooooooh skiddle deedoo, a fig for you,

The fishcrew boldy cried,

"Just chuck 'em in the ocean,

They'll wash up by the tide!"



'Tis mutiny oh woe is me,

The frog did croak so sad,

"If I'd a crew o' boiler crabs,

They'd not be'ave so bad!"



'Twas after dark, a passin' shark,

Heard what was goin' on,

So for his tea, impartially,

He ate up everyone.



Ooooh goodness me hoho heehee,

The shark smiled, "Lackaday,

I can't abide a feckless frog,

Nor fish who won't obey!'"



Stew

'Ho wot d'you give to a saucy crew?

Stew! Stew! Stew!

Wot's better than a bowl o' stew?

Why a bowl o' stew or two!

We fries the varnish of the mast,

Then adds some ole rope ends,

An' the cap'n boots all boiled up slow,

Good flavour to it lends.

So scoff it up 'tis good for you,

Stew! Stew! Stew!

Made with a drop o' lantern oil,

An' a barnacle or two,

Some fine sail thr

eads an' fishes' heads,

Then roast the cooks ole socks,

An' add to that some o' the fat,

They use to grease the locks!

Ho stew, stew luvverly stew,

No skilly'n'duff or brown burrgoo,

Just swallow the lumps that you can't chew,

An' fill a plate for yore worst mate,

Then sit an' watch him temptin' fate,

With face so green an' nose all blue,

Stew! Stew! Steeeeeeeeeeew!'



A Shortsighted Vole

'A shortsighted vole climbed out of his hole,

His glasses he'd lost I fear,

Some blossom petals in the breeze,

Fell on his head, oh dear!



"I thought 'twas summer but winter's come,

'Tis snow!" that vole did shout.

"I think I'd better go and warn

The other creatures herabout!"



He bellowed round the woodland wide,

"I think 'tis going to freeze!"

He shooed some sparrows from a nest,

"Back to your hive you bees!"



And squinting dimly at the ground,

He lectured tufts of grass,

" All hedgehogs now should be indoors,

'Til wintertide does pass!"



"Go join your family round the fire,

Don't sit there all alone,

'Tis not fit weather for a mole,"

He scolded at a stone.



" And as for you," he told a bush,

"You badgers aren't too smart,

I thought you'd be the first to know,

When winter's due to start!"



So gather round and listen all,

My moral's clear and true,

I think 'tis best to stop and think,

When thought occur to you!'



Beau's Funeral Verse by Cardo

'Our friend was taken by the sea,

He rests now, who knows where,

A good an' gen'rous beast he was,

A brave an' cheerful hare.



We've got no flow'rs nor blossoms,

To cast out on the deep,

No stone will ever mark the spot,

Where he sank down to sleep.



Beau Fethringsol Cosfortingham,

Sweet as long summer days,

Your memory lies in our hearts,

You'll be our mate, always!'



The Old Farm Mouse

'There was an ole farmhouse,

lived in an ole farmhouse,

Who always thought of a reason,

To rant an' complain, again an' again,

Whatever the weather or season.



If rain came down, he'd scowl an' frown,

Shake a paw at the sky an' say,

"Rains like these are good for the peas,

But they ain't much use for me hay!"



Then if a wind came along, he'd change his song,

Cryin' out "Oh woe lackaday,

'Tis all I need, a wind indeed,

To blow all me apples away!"



He'd gnash his teeth about shaded wheat,

At a sign of a cloud in the skies,

An' the very sight o' cloudless sunlight,

Would bring tears to both his eyes.



He'd simmer'n'boil, as he pawed the soil,

An' got himself worried an' fussed,

"Lookit that sunlight, 'tis far too bright,

'Twill turn all me soil to dust!"



Oh botheration, trouble an' toil,

Life don't get peaceful or calmer,

If I'd gone to sea, a sailor I'd be,

Instead of an ole mouse farmer.'



The Bogle

'From the dark and icy deeps,

Where the dreaded Bogle sleeps,

He'll rise one night and climb aboard your ship,

Bringing fear and deathlike doom,

To your very cabin room,

Beware the Bogle's clammy vicelike grip!



Aye, woe betide that crew,

Sailing on the main so blue,

And to those who don't believe me double grief,

When the Bogle takes a meal,

You will hear a dreadful squeal,

He strikes when night time falls, just like a thief!



Aye, who of you can tell,

Give him gifts and feed him well,

Then the Bogle may slide back into the sea,

But if gifts and food be few,

Hearken now, for it is true,

The Bogle may eat you, or even me!



Crack some ribs or crush a skull,

Stuff down hearts 'til he is full,

Rip paws or tails of any poor seabeast,

Lock your cabin doors this night,

Shake with terror, quake with fright,

For the Bogle may invite you to his feast!'



Beau's Auntie's Song

'When you're feelin' down an' glumb,

Don't just sit around lookin' dumb,

Sing tickety boo a fig for you, wot ho fol lah!

'Cos there's time for all that gloom,

When you're dead an' in that tomb,

Sing tickety boo a fig for you, wot ho fol lah!

When 'tis rainin' all the day,

An' the skies are all dirty grey,

An' you've at the last plum pudden of the shelf,

Jig an' caper in the wet,

You'll be better of I bet,

Than pullin' faces, feelin' sorry for yourself.

Sing tickety boo a fig for you, wot ho fol lah!

These few words will cheer you up an' take you far,

Not like that old frumpy duck,

Or a frog who's out of luck,

Or the little maggot who has lost his ma, ah ah ah ah aaaah!

If you laugh there'll be no rain,

An' the sun will shine again,

Then your dear old aunt will bake you apple pie,

So when hedgehogs learn to fly,

Fish will quack an' wonder why?

Sing tickety boo a fig for you, never say die aye aye,

Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aaaaaaye!'



Lady Amber

'The dull old ground is not for me,

I can't stand it somehow,

Leave me in a good stout tree,

Upon a knotty bough!



'Tis hey ho and up we go,

Above the ground we dwell,

Where every leaf'n'twig we know,

And every branch right well!



A squirrel a squirrel so nimble,

Can climb most anywhere,

A tail in a tree is a symbol,

That I'm at home up there!



So ash oak rowan or pine,

Stately elm or beech,

They're all fine, they're all mine,

They're all within my reach!'



Columbine's Lullaby

'Round the seaons slowly turning,

Faithful as the stars and moon,

Summer fades, the earth is yearning,

Softly whis'pring, autumn soon.



Drape the woods in mist one morning,

Now small birds have learned to fly,

Mother Nature's gentle warning,

See green leaves turn brown, and die.



In old orchards on the bough,

Fruit hangs russet, red and gold,

Purple scarlet berries now,

All the rambling hedgerows hold.



Hazel, beech and chestnut too,

Each displays its burden fair,

They will shed them, all for you,

Ere winter lays their branches bare.



Fields of ripened grain and corn,

Swaying to a murm'ring breeze,

Shaking off the dew of dawn,

When the eye sees signs like these.



Summer's long hot days are ended,

Harvest moons o'er stream and mere,

Tell the tale, as 'twas intended,

Autumn's peaceful dream is here.'



Skipper's Ditty

'Good night, sleep tight!

Don't forget t'close the door,

Good night, sleep tight!

Use the bed an' not the floor,

Good night, sleep tight!

Now don't let me hear you snore,

Good night, sleep tight!

An' don't sleepwalk anymore.

Blow out the candle,

Turn down the bed,

Stop yore yawnin' sleepyhead.



Good night, sleep tight!

Up the wooden stairs y'creep,

Good night, sleep tight!

Put on yore nightie go to sleep,

Good night, sleep tight!

Stop that talkin' in yore dreams,

Good night, sleep tight!

Don't rip y'sheets to smithereens,

If a nightmare starts t'show,

An' you wake me up, oho,

Out the window you will go... Good night!'



Fruit Picking

'Now go good son and and daughter,

Haste to our orchard fair,

And gather in the harvest,

Which lies a-waiting there.

Ripe apples, ripe apples are falling to the ground,

As pears so sweet and juicy are lying all around!



Keep singing pretty daughter,

Until the work is done,

So you don't eat the berries,

And leave your mother none.

Blackberries, ripe cherries, don't bruise or break them miss,

For sweetness can be lost like a faithless lover's kiss!



The gooseberry and greengage,

Are bittersweet my son,

And damson has a heart stone,

You'll find before you're done.

Enchanting, enticing, like wild grape on the vine,

The maidens want to help you, to let their paws entwine!



So pick a berry, sing so merry,

Harvest time is here,

Go skipping round our orchard,

My son and daughter dear!'



Journey's End

Marching home! Marching home!

Jolly friend! Jolly friend!

Trav'lling on, until our journey's end,

So away with all your fears,

Smile with me forget those tears,

Though the road was long and dusty we survived.

And arrived!

Tramp, tramp, tramp, tramp,

Moorlands dry or forests damp,

Sharing together side by side.



Marching home! Marching home!

Jolly friend! Jolly friend!

O'er each highland, around each river's bend,

Keep your chin up in the rain,

Soon we'll be back home again,

Though my paws are worn and weary never fear.

Oh my dear!

Left right left right,

Onward mate by day or night,

Lean on my shoulder now old friend,

Left right left right,

Grey the day or sunlight bright,

Until we reach our journey's end.

Marching home! Marching home!'



A Warrior's Legacy

I stand here in this world alone,

No kin of mine to take the sword,

No son or daughter of my own,

A bitter and a sad reward,

But Redwall in its hour of need,

Will bring forth to follow me,

To that one, valiant indeed,

I leave a Warrior's legacy.







Lord Brocktree

Lord Brocktree has not been published

*All of this poetry is from the Redwall books by Brian Jacques.



