Compared to wolves who live in this wood,
my facial expressions are really good.
Domestic dogs have evolved a trait
which helps us to communicate.

Instead of howling long and slow,
like wolves do when the moon’s aglow,
we’ve learnt to bark, say yap, yap, yap
for pay attention human chap.

Our eyebrows we can drop and raise
and give you one big longing gaze
that says now please be nice to me,
you know I love you, honestly.

No wolf can do this clever trick.
They lack the muscles called fast-twitch.
So have you guessed my current mood? 
It’s, take me home and give me food!

Dogs use fast-acting face muscles to help them make puppy-dog eyes:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2314938-dogs-use-fast-acting-face-muscles-to-help-them-make-puppy-dog-eyes/

We were having a picnic
A rug spread on the ground
My owners eating merrily
I watched and made no sound.
The day was cool but bright
I was thrown a bone or two
Whilst they chatted on
Leaving me to enjoy a chew.
As the time marched on
And cooler it became
They started packing up
Whilst the weather was still tame.
They left me on the rug
As they ferried goods away
But I felt cold and miserable
Having been told to stay.
I wrapped the blanket around me
And waited for their return
As I was feeling cold
Which was of a concern.
I sat there huddled up
Obedient as one can be 
And upon their return 
My heart pounded full of glee.

Hot soup in a cup,

almost too hot to hold.

With fresh buttered bread,

or toast coloured gold.

The rain patters down

but I’m snug as can be,

wrapped in a blanket

and watching TV.

My dog cuddles close

and my cat is asleep.

I’m cosy and warm

all winter so deep.

Like an ancient herald’s call
Rustling leaves in autumn fall.
Though they whisper, never shout,
Yet their message leaves no doubt:
“Summer’s heat is on the wane,
Winter’s on the way again!”

A Victorian subject
returns to our schools.
Exams will be written –
you know that’s the rule.

Students will start to
go out “in the field”,
like Dame Jane Goodall
whose studies revealed
so much about chimpanzees
in the wild.  Let’s
get back to nature
with every child!

Those woodlands hold therapy,
beauty, fragility.
Discover your love for
our world’s Natural History.

Celebrating the return of Natural History in school education.
https://teach.ocr.org.uk/naturalhistory

Run out of paper?
Never fear!
There are plenty of leaves
now autumn's here!

Paint a face today,
what a joke,
on a leaf from an elm,
maple or oak.

What leaf will you paint?
Go in search
of a leaf from a beech
or silver birch.

Want to paint leaves?
Never fuss!
Plenty of trees are
deciduous!