Boswell's Radiation Rag

It's not so hard. It's not so far
to get your head inside the jar
When you're asleep, it's not that bad
to do the radiation rag

I'm getting on. I'm doing fine
I'm on TV and on cloud nine
I've had my scan. I have to brag
about the radiation rag

The nurses say that I am hot
by radiation (and by blog)
And in this hotness, I am cool
No flapping radiation fool

Mark reads to me. I stand about
I'm getting well without a doubt
My nursing friends are very kind
to write me letters when inclined

So bring it on and let me be
a blogging goose, all well and free
I think this cancer's in the bag
All thanks to radiation rag

Boswell: from Gosling, to Goose, to Celebrity

Regulars who have been with me for a while will remember that, back in May 2007, I first met, and introduced to my readers, Boswell, when he was a mere cute gosling. In the months following, several poems were written to, and for him, by my good self. The Goose Engine (repeated below) was the first, and took its title from the work that Mark, Boswell's owner and IBM programmer, had been doing on a site for the music of Philip Glass, called The Glass Engine.

However, after a short time, Boswell became ill with a rare form of cancer and had to go into hospital for an operation. I kept in touch with Mark and wrote Boswell a poem of encouragement followed by a welcome home poem for after his operation. (I must admit to penning one in case things didn't turn out well but, thankfully, haven't had to use it.)

Then in November of 2007, I received a photo, from Mark, of Boswell all grown up and penned another update, followed by more news about Boswell's sister, Woglinde. Finally, in August 2008, Boswell began his own blog, over a year since I had spoken about him being a budding blogger in The Goose Engine

Now, Boswell has become quite a celebrity in his own right. He has been featured on TV, with Mark of course, so I will be posting this video tomorrow.

I hope you will forgive a swelling of pride in this old Mouton's breast, when I remind you that I had predicted, back in May 2007, that Boswell would be a very fine blogger. I have taken the liberty of reprinting it below:

The Goose Engine

Boswell is from IBM

(leaning to the left)
Trying hard his height to gain
but isn't very deft.

Wants to be a blogger
when he's tall and straight
Fears he will discover
he's developed late.

Listens now to Philip Glass
in wood and leafy glade
(But is he just inertial mass
sitting in the shade?)

The IB-MUS guys think he's cool
and never fly-by-night
He's not just anybody's fool
despite his challenged height.

So don't go goofing off outside
with old Canadian geese
Let cool programmers be your guide
where music's the set piece.

Keep growing tall and filling out
so you can blog with ease
And be the smartest goose, no doubt,
to have web expertise.

Taking my Eye off the Ball

One of my followers has been in touch with the good lady of the house to say that she thinks I've taken my eye off the ball where my blog is concerned. There may be some truth in this, I suppose, because the words 'daily', 'mouton' and 'post' haven't been appearing in the same sentence for some time.

However, although it may come as a surprise to some of you, I have a life outside blogging, you know! And what's with all this eye and ball business. All that 'keeping your eye on the ball' means, is that you are giving full attention to what you are doing. That's just my point. My eye never drifts from what I'm doing. It just isn't the blog ball at the moment.

I'm Theoremed Out

I'm theoremed out
There is no doubt
I'm x-d and y-d and z-d
For Wiles he is the real deal man
For taking Fermat's seed

It grew and grew
before he knew
And years had flown away
But elegance was what he sought
to prove it, in his way

The first attempt
was a preempt
for what was sure to come
He thrilled the world and humbly knew
he'd conquered that old sum