I saw a little squirrel go a walking human paths well trod
His tail was swishing to and fro as if ‘twas like a passing nod
to metronomes just beating time accompanying his daily trek
And oft times I remember him, his journey by that lonely beck
I ponder this, and wonder that, considering his lonely jaunt
I saw him yet again today and thought him looking rather gaunt
I’d like to think he sees me, yet, I hope he knows I can’t forget
The joy he brought when e’er we met reminds me of the epithet.
Bright eyed and bushy tailed

This being my first audio attempt I am spoiled for choice of what to offer. I tried so many versions and have rejected dozens, but cannot pick which one of six should be THE ONE. Being human, and kind, I’m giving you all six. You choose!
Words, pictures, and audio all ©petermatthews February2021
Pingback: Rapid rhymes in stereo? – Peter's pondering
Peter! You did a great job! I really like the third one! Way to go!
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Thank you so much trE! My comfort zone has now been breached!
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Well donePeter! You did a marvellous job. I loved listening to you.
My favourite? Number four because of the increased intonation.
Like you I always have several attempts when making recordings of my voice, but I’ve yet to be completely satisfied with anything I’ve recorded.
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Thank you Sue, and also for your support and encouragement. I left all recordings as they were with no editing. I am happy with the results!
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You did? Oh, my, you are far better than I am at recording.
I am so picky and am never happy with any of mine. I have umpteen attempts but can never say I’m satisfied. Perhaps it’s something to do with what you said earlier when you said you didn’t like your voice – maybe that’s it, even an extra long pause sounds wrong.
On the plus side, I enjoy the whole process, especially playing about with editing so maybe it’s not so bad after all. 🙂
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I honestly like all of them and I think you have a great voice. I can’t imagine what made you hesitant. Your voice is arresting and quite lovely to listen to. For the records, if I didn’t think this, I wouldn’t be saying it. I also like the poem!
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Thank you so much. I think I shall have to do a few more!
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There’s no question about that!
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Ha, Peter…your voice is as I imagined! Lovely poem, nicely delivered. If I must choose, I would say 6, but all readings are good. Nw we need more…
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It’s strange how we have a mental image of bloggers we’ve never met, and an audible one it seems too. There will be more.
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Lovely soothing voice, Peter! You did your little friend proud with your poem. I like all the readings, especially #6.
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Thank you. The pictures are actually of two different squirrels and the first one was a very poorly boy indeed. I picked him up and put him in a tree because he was very vulnerable on the ground.
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This is so cool getting to listen to your voice. I know that you are British, but that really sinks in with the audios. I had to look up the word beck, because I never heard it before.
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I must admit that beck is not a word in common use nowadays unless you live in Yorkshire or are a country boy of a certain age!
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You sound as I imagined, Now, which one? Hard to say. Six? Nicely done though and a lovely poem. newepicauthor’s comment is interesting. I never thought of ‘beck’ as being a non-standard word before
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I hope that my voice passed muster and didn’t resemble a “holy – I’m reading poetry” one! I tried to be as “normal” as I could!
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Not a bit pious, Peter. Perfectly pleasing.
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Perfectly pleasing Peter’s probably pondering possibilities!
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If really pushed I would say 4 or 6 but all are good. Just as an aside when I first saw your blog some time ago, I saw you photo and thought ‘wow he looks just like Richard’ (a friend). I showed one of your posts to my wife and without any prompting she said ‘wow he looks just like Richard!’ For the record – you sound nothing like Richard!
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Thank you John. What a handsome chap Richard must be!
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Quite wealthy too!
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Nothing like me then!
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Oh! This is wonderful, Peter! Your poem AND listening to you read it! You have such a pleasant soothing voice, I could listen to you for hours! I enjoyed all of them…but if I had to pick a fav it would be #4! 🙂
Please do this again if you have time!
Aren’t squirrels wonderful?!?! Your photos of the squirrels are cute! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
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Thank you Carolyn. I shall do it again!
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Very cool! People’s voices are never as I imagine them. Though, having recorded my own voice on occasion and listened to it back, neither is mine!
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I’m still trying to figure out whose voice I’ve recorded!
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