The peas and beans lived in the hills

They lived on soup and cantaloupe

Although their play was often raucous

The peas round features made them cautious

The beans made light of falling over

But peas roll faster and much further

While beans thought peas were having frolics

The beans flat shape made peas quite jealous

One day while rolling in the glade

A bean was overheard, he said...

If we can tempt the peas to follow

We’ll bounce and roll them down the hollow

That way both hill and glade are ours

We’ll feast on moss and pretty flowers

The peas that eves-dropped on such banter

Shivered, shook and what came after...

Beans colluded in hushed tones

Peas knees shook, well if they’d had bones

And peas were scared and peas were frozen

To the spot, as they’d been chosen

The next day came, as dawn is dawn

And beans were vocal in their plan

Come join us peas we’ll have a game

It’s by the hollow down the lane

As peas resigned themselves to fate

One pea stood up keen to orate

Wait just one tick, one second here

We peas are not just petit poise

We’ll go along with all these beans

Who’s sneaky plan to cheese us peas

It’s just a rouse to can our rights

I’ll not be canned without a fight

Peas strolled with beans down to the hollow

But peas have plans and are not shallow

As the shiny sun shone on the peas

They cooked and ripened with great ease

It did not take much longer friend

For the mushy peas to stick and blend

As beans must soak for so much time

They only hardened in the shine

When peas grouped up in two’s and threes

They would not roll despite the beans

Attempts to tip or trick to follow

Them down into the murky hollow

In truth the beans began to anger

Their shrunk and shiny bodies slipped

Right past the peas towards the edge

They saw the end; They were ‘dead veg’

The beans cried out to peas with pleas

We’re sorry peas despite your knees

Will you forgive and pull us out

But peas were mush and had no clout

Their fate was sorted, nowhere to hide

The beans were doomed, began to slide

Their legs were short their shoulders narrow

Their last days finished in that hollow

As night drew in and darkness fell

The beans again began to yell

Please help us peas we’ll be good friends

The peas were cool and broke their bonds

We’ll help you beans if you are able

To sit with us around the table

The beans complied with all their wishes

They’d be quite nice and not so vicious

So peas and beans now get on well

They bathe in rice and that’s quite swell

They’re often seen on hills and glades

Relaxed on dishes wearing shades

Richard Lee November 2005