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Books and Poetry From Them

Brian Jacques
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Books and Poetry From Them

The Order of Redwall Books:

For anyone who needs or wants to know I believe that this is the order to read the Redwall books for best chomprehension and understanding:

Lord Brocktree

Martin the Warrior

Mossflower

The Legend of Luke

The Outcast of Redwall

Mariel of Redwall

The Bellmaker

Salamandastron

Redwall

Mattimeo

The Pearls of Lutra

The Long Patrol

Marlfox

The Taggerung

Triss

Loamhedge

Rakkety Tam

High Rhulain

This is some of my favorite poems from the books. All of this poetry is from the Redwall books by Brian Jacques:                   

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.

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