Serving God in the heart of our community since 1881

St Andrew's Church, Taunton

Henry's Goat's Blog Parts 1 and 2

19 December 2006

I was stuck in this shop, a lone goat among bears

(How horrid they were; they just gave themselves airs).

It was Carol who found me and took me away;

I was really excited. What fun! Would she play?

But no, I was wrapped up in paper so dark,

With no food at all: now how’s that for a lark?

When they let me go free, what a sight to behold!

There were so many people: eleven all told.

However, I thought they looked friendly enough,

And the table was laden with lots of good stuff.

They knew that I’m partial to onion rings,

And I noticed – thank goodness – that none of them sings.

Then packed up again – to be taken to where?

It’s the tall one who took me, the one with grey hair.

He settled me in here, but to my dismay

I discovered, too late, he’d forgotten my hay.

He promised so much, in that poem he wrote,

But a poem's no use to a ravenous goat.

He swept the top room for me? No he did not!

He doesn’t like working (I’m learning a lot!).

He’ll teach me to canter? He’ll find me some thistle?

Maybe he will – when he’s learnt how to whistle.

He was walking on Exmoor today, and that’s when

I wrote all this blog, putting paper to pen.

He left me behind, and it makes me so cross

To think of him striding o’er bracken and moss.

He should take me with him, through oak wood and heather;

I’d really enjoy it, whatever the weather.

I’d keep right ahead of him, honest I would;

I’d run-run-run-run just as fast as I could.

Evening on Tuesday means Wilton and ringing.

Be thankful for mercies – at least there’s no singing.

22 December 2006

Now answer me truly: which one of you talked?

I know someone told him, ‘cos in he just walked

And told me he’d heard of my blog that I wrote.

He says that he thinks I’m an ungrateful goat.

Perhaps I was tetchy, like goats often get

When they move somewhere new – any goat gets upset.

I’m chirpier now. There’s a puppy-dog here;

A white rabbit too, all the way from Ikea.

I’m taking them with me when we go away.

(We’re going to Wiltshire for Christmas, to stay

In a house, so he tells me, that’s all full of noise

And children and clergy and lots of nice toys.)

So have a good Christmas. I’ll see you all here

When next you meet up, in the coming New Year.

READ NEXT BLOG