Pam Ayres wrote, so I did too

The lovely and very talented Pam Ayres once wrote a poem that described the calling of dry stone walling as 'appalling'. I couldn't resist a reply.

WHAT'S APPALLING ABOUT DRY STONE WALLING?

By Patrick Wise (aged 71 and a bit)

Come rain and wind and squalls
I builds dry stone walls.
Whatever the weather I'm there.
To some, heaps of stones
Just looks like old bones,
But to me they looks lovely and fair.

Each one is a beauty.
I takes it my duty
To find the right place for each one.
I shapes up its face
And pops it in place
So it works well in rain, hail and sun.

One day a smart bloke
Came strolling, and spoke.
'That's easy' he said, 'Looks real cushy.
Just placing one stone
On top of another. Job done, what?
Fancy some sushi?'

''tis more than you think'
I said with a wink.
'Wallings a skill that few know.
You place one stone true
On top of the two
That you placed on the one down below.'

So see a stone wall,
Look closely and all.
It's a work of fine art, I elect.
I find dry stone walling
In no way appalling.
I'm an artist, so show some respect!