Nostalgia alert!

AA Milne

I didn't grow up loving AA Milne's Winnie the Pooh and his Christopher Robin poems.  I came to them as a 16 year old and even though I was older than his target market, I loved them.

My absolute favourite AA Milne poem was James James (more properly known as Disobedience) large chunks of which I can still recite to this day!

Here it is for you – it has a lovely rollicking cadence so is better spoken than just read.

James James

Morrison Morrison

Weatherby George Dupree

Took great

Care of his Mother,

Though he was only three.

James James Said to his Mother,

"Mother," he said, said he;

"You must never go down

to the end of the town,

if you don't go down with me."

James James

Morrison's Mother

Put on a golden gown.

James James Morrison's Mother

Drove to the end of the town.

James James Morrison's Mother

Said to herself, said she:

"I can get right down

to the end of the town

and be back in time for tea."

King John

Put up a notice,

"LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!

JAMES JAMES MORRISON'S MOTHER

SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.

LAST SEEN

WANDERING VAGUELY:

QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,

SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN

TO THE END OF THE TOWN

-

FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!"

James James

Morrison Morrison

(Commonly known as Jim)

Told his

Other relations

Not to go blaming him.

James James

Said to his Mother,

"Mother," he said, said he:

"You must never go down to the end of the town

without consulting me."

James James

Morrison's mother

Hasn't been heard of since.

King John said he was sorry,

So did the Queen and Prince.

King John

(Somebody told me)

Said to a man he knew:

If people go down to the end of the town, well,

what can anyone do?"

(Now then, very softly)

J.J.

M.

M.

W.G.Du P.

Took great

Care of his M*****

Though he was only 3.

J.J. said to his M*****

"M*****," he said, said he:

"You must never go down

To the end of the town

if you don't go down

with ME!"