Rodings Rally 2010

Half a league, half a league

Half a league onward

Into the forest dark

Ventured more than one hundred.

‘Forward’ EFOGers said

While the new maps were read

Guides for their forest treads

For more than one hundred.

‘Journey the plotted way

Let not one soul dismay

Not tho’ the snow might lay

No-one has blundered.

We will the clues supply

They’ll make the time fly by

There’ll be no hue and cry

Deep in the forest dark

By more than one hundred.’

Trees to the right of them

Trees to the left of them

Trees to the front of them

Bushes and brambles

Grabbed at by thorn and briar

Ducking low, stretching higher

Into the forest dark

Went more than one hundred.

Flashed all their torches bright

Fireflies in dead of night

Ensuring they got it right

Asking no mercy

Trudging on and onward

Searching for passage through, while

Organisers wondered:

Will all the tents be found

Will checkers sleep too sound

To tick the boxes right

Deep in the dead of night

For more than one hundred?

Trees to the right of them

Trees to the left of them

Trees to the front of them

Bushes and brambles

Grabbed at by thorn and briar

To succeed - their desire.

Know that they fought right well

Came thro’ the muds of hell

Back from the savage dell

All that was left of them

Left of more than one hundred.

When will their glory fade?

O the brave trek they made

All Epping wondered.

Honour the challenge faced

Moon time deep forest paced

By more than one hundred.

Pamela C

(with acknowledgement and thanks to Alfred Lord Tennyson)