Ode to the Long Walkers

Some fairer weather for our Wednesday walk

It's mild, and Spring is in the air at last

All booted up, and off across the fields

We start, with Roy up front, the pace is fast

The spires of Lichfield disappear beyond the trees

Skylarks sing and friendly chatter fills the air

We walk and talk, and switch and swap with others on the way

There's always lots of catching up, and news to share

Audrey sports new, shiny leather boots

Jill with fairy earrings, low-fat Frank,

Less cake Ray, Cheery Chris V and Molly too

We lunch together on a sunny bank

Roy may angle for a complement

When sizing up the one that got away

But did he underestimate the miles

When working out the route, for today

So was it eight, or was it ten, who cares?

And what about the twenty (thirty?) stiles
Or does it really matter, if we all enjoyed our day

That in the end we knew we'd walked, not eight but ten good miles?