The summer is over, moaned the Mouse,

At the house where the buddleias grow.

Oh, surely not, said the Hedgehog,

There must be some weeks to go.

But not for me, said miserable Mouse,

The summer is over for me.

When the buddleias' blooms lose their purple hue

And turn to the colour of tea.

It's been a poor season, said the Mouse,

No butterflies came to stay.

A peacock stopped for a day or two,

And a comma looked in for a day.

But where did the Painted Ladies go?

Red Admirals never have been.

Tortoiseshells normally come in a crowd,

But hardly a one has been seen.

And, to cap it all, the sun was ashamed,

And hid behind the moon.

I was really worried he wouldn't come back

But his tantrum ended soon.

Oh, cheer up, Mouse, said the Hedgehog.

The summer could have been worse.

The friendly owner has fed us well,

And amused us with buddleia verse.

B W Tyas Cooper

Breckland Drive

Heaton

Bolton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.