THE GUEST OF HONOR

Old Bilbo Baggins is eleventy-one!

For a hobbit, indeed a respectible age.

Though he loves to sit out with his pipe in the sun

He acts like a lad in his tweens, not a sage!

For a hobbit, indeed a respectible age

He’s well on his way now to match the Old Took!

He acts like a lad in his tweens, not a sage–

In his eye there’s a bright bit of rascally look!

He’s well on his way now to match the Old Took

With a spritely spring in his wandering stride.

In his eye there’s a bright bit of rascally look

And it’s long been suspected, there’s a Took inside!

With a sprightly spring in his wandering stride

He is like to go off with a bang and a flash

And it’s long been suspected there’s a Took inside

A-craving adventures foolhardy and rash.

He is like to go off with a bang and a flash

Though he loves to sit out with his pipe in the sun,

A-craving adventures foolhardy and rash…

Old Bilbo Baggins is eleventy-one!

_{(copyright by CLRedding 2004)}